Available in many shapes and materials, rolling pins are essential to pie making and are necessary for rolling dough evenly. The most common rolling pin material is hardwood, but for pastry items, like pie dough, you might select marble or stainless steel, as these materials will remain cool and not […]
Taking a Small Bite of Spanish Culture
Easy to eat and quick to serve, tapas have made their way from the bars and restaurants of Spain to capturing the attention of Americans. These tempting tidbits delight the palate with intense flavors and contrasting textures. Whether simple or complex in their preparation, served hot or cold, tapas make […]
Elevating Your Home Bar: Under the Sink to Top Shelf
With all the cocktail choices out there, being prepared to make even a simple drink for your friends after work can seem like a daunting task. So, more often than not, we end up defaulting to wine or craft brews. But sometimes the intrigue of ice clinking in the glass, […]
Recipes for New Year’s Eve, However You Celebrate
There is no script for New Year’s Eve, and whether you prefer to ring in the new year solo or surrounded by friends, we all have to eat! No matter what you have planned, we’ve got the perfect recipe to suit your celebration. Family Fun If you have little ones […]
Cute and Easy Christmas Toppers for Festive Cakes, Pies, and other Treats
Though some may favor a minimalist holiday, we like to believe the more the merrier when it comes to festive decor and Christmas spirit! Bring on the sprinkles! Festive doesn’t have to mean complicated, though, and one of our favorite tricks for Christmas cheer just happens to also be one […]
Gingerbread: History on Display
“And I had but one pennie in the world, thou should’st have it to buy Gingerbread” -Costard in Love’s Labour’s Lost, William Shakespeare c. 1598 When I was a child, one of my favorite holiday traditions was when my family and I would visit Mystic Seaport in Stonington, Connecticut for […]
Braiding Challah
Challah, an enriched and truly delicious bread, is prized for its tender crumb, but identifiable by its glossy crust and characteristic braid. It is unmistakable among the other crisp crusts and rustic shapes. As part of ancient Jewish traditions, challah dough can be simply braided from three strands, like we […]
Sugared Cranberries, a Surprisingly Tasty Holiday Treat
Until you taste them yourself, the idea of a sugared cranberries might seem awfully silly. An impossibly tart, dry-textured fruit covered in plain sugar? What do you do with it? And, why? We hear you, but also, we’re sugaring cranberries. And here’s why! Made simply by poaching fresh cranberries in […]
Making Crêpes
Crêpes are very thin pancakes made by cooking a batter in a very thin layer. Crêpes are typically stuffed, folded, topped, or layered with sweet or savory fillings. The thinner the crêpe the better, but don’t be discouraged if the first crêpes you make are a little uneven or thick. […]
How to Read the Label on Chocolate
Calling all chocolate lovers, we want to talk about our favorite ingredient! If you love baking cookies, you may already have a favorite brand or variety of chocolate chips. But when it comes to pastry and candy recipes that showcase chocolate, the options can seem endless—and endlessly confusing. But that’s […]
Soups and Stews for Chilly Nights Ahead
The week after Thanksgiving is the unofficial start of winter, as far as we’re concerned. With twinkling lights appearing around the neighborhood and the smell of fireplaces crackling in the distance, there is nothing greater than a pot of soup or stew simmering on the stovetop. Try one of our […]
How to: Make Chowders
Good chowders have a rich flavor, balancing the main flavoring ingredient(s) and supporting aromatic and finishing flavors, a velvety texture, and a lightly thickened consistency, similar to heavy cream. If you are making a shellfish-based chowder (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.), before beginning, steam the main ingredient in stock or water […]