RECIPE: Apricot Pumpkin Bread

For Thanksgiving weekend, how about some apricot pumpkin bread, delicious for breakfast, brunch, snacks and tea sandwiches. This recipe is courtesy of B & R Farms, apricot growers who sell their delicious products at California farmers markets and to wholesalers. For more recipes, visit BRFarms.com. RECIPE: APRICOT PUMPKIN BREAD Ingredients 1 large egg 1 cup…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Foie Gras “Kisses”

“French Kisses,” prunes stuffed with foie gras. Photo courtesy of Dartagnan.com. Looking for a special-occasion cocktail snack? You can buy “French Kisses” gourmet delights ready-made from Dartagnan.com, or make them easily (and more cost-effectively) yourself. 1. Buy plump, pitted prunes and mousse de foie gras (duck or goose liver mousse—or substitute less expensive chicken liver…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Savory Chèvre Truffles

Roll goat cheese in your choice of coatings; here, cocoa and hazelnuts. Photo courtesy of Romanicos. These are one of our favorite, fun-to-make hors d’oeuvres. Take a Montrachet log or other soft chèvre (goat cheese), cut it into slices and roll the slices into truffle-size balls. (If you don’t want to hand-roll them, you can…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Holiday Ice Cubes

Our favorite ice cube trays from ISI Orka keep ice cleaner and fresher and color-code our “specialty” ice cubes. You can make festive ice cubes for holiday drinks without investing in special pumpkin- or holly leaf-shape ice cube trays. And you can do it more elegantly, too! Just freeze one of the following in each…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Caviar “Cigar” First Course

A simple-to-make, impressive first course is a smoked salmon roll filled with salmon caviar and crème fraîche. Ask the counter person to slice the salmon in wide pieces instead of narrow strips—explain that you’re going to fill the slices and roll them up like a cigar. 1. Spread the inside of each slice with crème…
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