[1] Pears poached in port and red wine, with a “cloak” of pistachios (photo © Santauri Restaurant | Los Angeles).

[2] Make the recipe with Bartlett (above) or Bosc pears (photo © Good Eggs).

[3] Bosc pears (photo © Good Eggs).

[4] Add some pomegranate arils to the plate for holiday color (photo © Good Eggs).

[5] Add some green to the red arils (photo © Good Eggs).

[6] The pears are poached in ruby port, which is also a great pairing with the dessert (photo © Sandeman).

When we saw this poached pear recipe, we knew we wanted to make it for the holidays, accented with some red raspberries and green mint.

It’s a welcome alternative to heavier desserts at the end of a Christmas dinner or other seasonal celebration.

The recipe is courtesy of Executive Chef Brendan Mica at Santauri restaurant in Los Angeles.

A beautiful, light and airy venue, Santuari serves California cuisine with Mediterranean accents inside the historic Toluca Lake Tennis Club.

Rich in history, the space, which is opposite Warner Bros Studio, was once frequented by stars such as Johnny Carson, Clint Eastwood and Farrah Fawcett. (If you’re in the area, take the studio tour and then have lunch.)

The food: Beautiful!
 
 
RECIPE: POACHED PEARS WITH A PISTACHIO CLOAK

This recipe needs to be made a day in advance. Poaching pears is easy, you can split the labor by making the candied pistachios the day before the pears.

There is also a surprise mascarpone filling.

Add a red and green holiday garnish with pomegranate arils and mint leaves.

If you don’t have a kitchen scale with metric measurements, the conversions are easy to find online.

Ingredients For 8 Servings

For The Candied Pistachio Cloak

 
Preparation

1. BRING all the ingredients to a boil and reduce by half. Discard the liquid.

2. DEEP FRY and allow to cool. Once cool, chop 2/3 of the candied pistachios in a food processor. They should have a sand-like consistency. Reserve the remaining whole pistachios to garnish the plates.
 
For The Pears & Poaching Liquid

 
Preparation

1. MAKE the poaching liquid. First toast all spices in a tall flat-bottom pot. Once fragrant, remove from the flame and add the port and red wine. Add the sugar and honey and bring to a simmer (do not boil). While the liquid is heating…

2. CUT the bottom off the pears—just enough so they sit flat. Core the pears using a melon baller. Peel the skin and place the pears directly into the poaching liquid. The liquid should cover the pears.

3. GENTLY ROTATE the pears during the cooking process. The pears should be firm but soft enough to cut with a spoon (insert a paring knife to test). Estimated cooking time is 20-35 minutes.

4. STRAIN the spices, reserving the poaching liquid. Refrigerate the pears in the poaching liquid overnight. The poaching liquid will become the glaze when you assemble the plate.
 
 
For The Honey-Lemon Mascarpone Filling

 
Preparation

1. BLEND the mascarpone ingredients. Remove the pears from the poaching liquid and carefully pat dry the insides. Pipe the filling into the pear cavities. Roll the stuffed pears in the chopped candied pistachios.

2. REDUCE the poaching liquid until it has a syrup-like consistency and coats the back of a spoon.

3. PLACE each pear on a plate and drizzle with the reduced poaching liquid. Garnish as desired with pomegranate arils and mint leaves.

Pomegranate Mezcal Punch
[1] Persephone Punch, made with mulled pomegranate juice (photo © Gem & Bolt).

[2] Star anise pods, available from Silk Road Spices (photo © Silk Road Spices.

[3] Pomegranate and its arils. The juice is squeezed from the arils (photo © Kelly Cline | iStock Photo).

[4] Juniper berries, available from Silk Road Spices (photo © Silk Road Spices.

[5] The 200ml bottle of Bolt Mezcal (photo © Gem & Bolt).

One of the differences between tequila and mezcal is the smoky flavor of mezcal (here are the other differences).

This punch uses mezcal instead of tequila to add something extra.

The recipe, from Gem & Bolt Mezcal, was named for Persephone, the Greek goddess of vegetation and the unwilling wife of Hades, god of the Underworld.

If you recall your Greek mythology, Persephone was abducted by Hades. Zeus demanded her return, but first Hades tricked her.

He encouraged her to eat some pomegranate seeds and then claimed that, because she had tasted food in the Underworld, she was obliged to spend a third of each year there (one month for each seed eaten, as we recall).

These became the winter months, when no crops grew on Earth because of Persephone’s absence from it.
 
 
RECIPE: PERSEPHONE’S POMEGRANATE PUNCH

For an alcohol-free version, serve the mulled pomegranate juice with ginger ale.

Ingredients For 20 Servings

 
For The Mulled Pomegranate Juice

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the mulled pomegranate juice ingredients a container and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Strain and discard the spices.

2. ADD to the punch bowl (or a large pitcher) with the chilled wine and spirits. Stir only slightly to blend: You don’t want to burst the bubbles.
 
 
ABOUT GEM & BOLT MEZCAL

Gem & Bolt is produced by a fourth-generation master distiller in Oaxaca, Mexico, using espadín agave* (Agave angustifolia) and mountain spring water.

Espadín agave, a plant pollinated at night by bats, takes up to 10 years to mature in the hot, dry climate.

The hand-harvested agave is slowly wood-roasted in earth pit ovens, and mashed with a traditional tahona stone, a large wheel chiseled out of volcanic stone, and configured to rotate in a stone pit (here’s a photo).

The roasted mash is then fermented naturally in wooden vats, and distilled in small copper stills.

Adding to its distinction, Gem & Bolt mezcal is uniquely distilled with damiana (Turnera diffusa), an herb from a flowering woody bush native to Mexico.

As far back as the Mayas and Aztecs, the damiana leaf and stem were used to make medicine. The medicine was used for its mood-elevating properties and as an aphrodisiac.

Aphrodisiac or not, you’ll enjoy this premium mezcal.
 
 
SMOKY VS. SMOKEY

Some English words have more than one spelling: doughnut vs. donut, omelet vs. omelette, and so on.

Many of these variations are historical or are from different languages. It often doesn’t make a difference which spelllng you choose.

Except in the case of smoky vs. smokey. Here, there is a clear cut difference.

 
Smokey Bear’s creators spelled his name this way intentionally, to differentiate it from the adjective “smoky” [source].

Few people realize the difference. Thus, there are many foods called, e.g. Smokey Blue Cheese and Smokey Red Sensation Salsa.

________________

*By law, Mezcal can be made from some 30 different agave species, varieties and subvarieties. Espadín is the most prominent variety in Oaxaca. By contrast, tequila can be made only with the blue agave plant, Agave tequilana Weber.

Today’s stocking stuffers are for mint lovers.
 
1. DANDIES PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Dandies Peppermint Marshmallows are a limited-edition holiday treat.

Dandies are all-natural, gelatin-free, vegan marshmallows. There’s no high fructose corn syrup or anything artificial: Cane sugar and tapioca syrup are used.

Vegan marshmallows taste just like conventional marshmallows, but tapioca starch is used instead of animal-based gelatin.

They are non-GMO and certified kosher pareve by CRC.

The fluffy pink bites add flair to:

 
We added them to our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, substituting the mini marshmallows for the nuts (photo #1).

This engendered the question:

Why hadn’t we thought to put marshmallows in chocolate chip cookies before this? A great idea!

The Peppermint Marshmallows are available at conventional and natural grocers through January.

Here”s a store locator, including e-tailers.

Visit Dandies.com for more information.

The History Off Marshmallows
 
 
2. LITTLE SECRETS CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT PIECES

Little Secrets is a new candy brand that creates versions of favorite newsstand candy* in better-for-you form.

The brand uses the highest quality ingredients, including Fair Trade Certified chocolate, sugar instead of corn syrup, and no artificial colors or flavors.

The candies have just the right level of sweetness—not the cloying, sugary taste of most newsstand candies.

For the holidays, these red and white bites have a chocolate peppermint center with a hard candy shell.

Eating them from the bag, add them to cookies, use them to garnish cakes and cupcakes, or create a holiday snack mix. (Include the Dandies Peppermint Marshmallows in that mix.)

The Little Secrets brand is available at Amazon, Peapod, Vitacost, Whole Foods and other stores nationwide.

Visit ShareLittleSecrets.com for more information.

________________

*Newsstand candy is the category of mass-marketed individual candy, so-called because it’s sold at newsstands…and near store check-out registers and elsewhere. Newsstands used to be ubiquitous, where people went to pick up a candy bar. The category may need a new name!

[1] Chocolate chip cookies with Dandies peppermint marshmallows (photos #1 and #2 © Dandies.com).

[2] The limited-edition peppermint flavor is available through January.

[3] Forget the cloying holiday M&Ms: These all-natural Little Secrets taste like grown-up candy should (photos #3 and #4 © Little Secrets).

[4] A holiday snack and garnish.

[1] Gnocchi Mac & Cheese. Here’s the recipe from DeLallo (photo © DeLallo).

[2] Eggplant Parmesan Baked Ziti. Here’s the recipe from DeLallo (photo © DeLallo).

[3] An easy Rigatoni Pie! Here’s the recipe from Just A Taste (photo © Just A Taste).

[4] If you prefer, Spaghetti Pie! Here’s the recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch (photo © Tastes Better From Scratch).

[5] One of the baked pasta dishes from P.F. Pasta Al Forno in New York City: thin crepes with spinach, ricotta and béchamel (photo © Tina B Photo 2019).

Al forno is Italian for food that has been baked in an oven. That includes pasta.

We think of most pasta as boiled; that’s the easiest way to make it. Remove it cooked from the pot, add sauce, bring it to the table.

But baked pasta dishes are very popular. Think cannelloni, lasagna, manicotti and ziti, for starters. Most of us order them in restaurants, because it’s more effort to prepare them.

Pasta al forno, pasta from the oven, offers delights that are worth the extra time to prepare them.

The “meaty” texture, the crisp browned edges, the layering of flavors, the different textures and presentations…all opportunities to shine.

Sometimes the pasta is double-cooked: boiled before it is baked. The pasta comes out soft, not with the firm al dente consistency that is standard in boiled pasta dishes.

(And may we add, as someone who drops food on herself: Pasta al forno is not drippy.)

Baked pasta is an opportunity to create dishes with many more ingredients than most boiled pasta recipes.

Layer on meats, vegetables, different cheeses, herbs and spices: Every recipe can present a different story, over, say, Spaghetti Bolognese or Linguine With Clam Sauce.

 
THE HISTORY OF PASTA AL FORNO

Northern Italy has a tradition of baking pasta in wood-burning ovens.

Pasta was introduced to Italy in the 8th century C.E. (the history of pasta and the history of oven cooking).

In the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century), baked pasta was an opportunity for chefs to show off their creativity.

Eventually, baked pasta, pasta al forno, was adopted all over Italy.

It traveled from the north to become a staple dish of Southern Italy, where it’s usually made on Sundays, holidays and special occasions.

Sicilians call it piatto unico, “one plate”: One serving is a complete main course of pasta (carbs), protein, vegetables and dairy (cheese) (source).

Wood was the main fuel for large parts of Europe for many centuries. Today, even though more efficient gas, electric, gas and convection ovens are available, some restaurants and home kitchens still use wood burning ovens because they prefer the flavor that a hint of wood provides (source).
 
 
BAKED PASTA RECIPES

You can bake any pasta, including mac and cheese and spaghetti.

There are meat-based, seafood-based, vegetarian and vegan recipes. There are even sweet recipes, like this delectable noodle kugel, typically served as a side.

Here are collections of recipes: so much variety that we wanted to eat them all.

 
When you consider baking your own pasta, remember that a lot of what goes into the pan depends on what’s in the refrigerator or pantry, and what’s in season.

 
You can add anything you like, from the classics to trendy veggies like cauliflower and kale.

Here are tips for making based pasta from DeLallo Foods.
 
 
A PASTA AL FORNO RESTAURANT

Your city may have a restaurant dedicated to pasta al forno.

New York City just received one, P. F. Pasta Al Forno, in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

This baked-pasta-only concept is the first of its kind in New York, honoring the original Pasta Al Forno in Florence, Italy, which operated from 1964 to 2000.

It’s a counter-service restaurant: Place your order for a slice and wait for it to be called. Then, take it home or dine-one of several group tables.

The rustic decor can transport you back to the Old World, with vintage accents, hand-painted menus, and beverages like Lurisia spring water and premium Italian soft drinks (try the arancia rosso, blood orange).

The breadsticks alone worth the trip. They’re free on the tabletops, and so special that we purchased four bags for gifting.

We couldn’t be happier with the food, either.

Vegan and vegetarian options are available, as well as all-vegetable dishes like baked caponata.

While there is lasagna (how could there not be), the other dishes were new to us, and total delights:

 
Head to PastaAlFornoNYC.com for more mouth-watering delights, including those below.
 

[6] From P.F. Pasta Al Forno in New York City: Timballo Del Anellini, wrapped in fried eggplant and prosciutto; Baked Rigatoni; and Timpano Del Cardinale, ziti wrapped in dried San Marzano tomatoes. (photo copyright Tina B Foto © 2019.
  

Here’s some news for people who love their butter and products made with it:

Not all butter is created equal. In addition to the base milk (organic versus conventional, the breed of cow, grass fed [free range]), different butters are churned to have different butterfat contents.

In the U.S., products sold as “butter” must contain at least 80% butterfat (milk fat), and has 15% butter. Most American butters contain slightly more than that, averaging around 81% butterfat.

European butters generally have a higher ratio: a minimum of 82%, with many at 83% and one up to 86%: the small-batch cultured butter from Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery (which is a spreading butter, not a cooking butter).

For a long time, professional bakers were able to purchase 83% butters on a wholesale level.

Why care? The higher butterfat content, the richer the flavor and the creamier the texture.

Higher butterfat means less water. Lower the moisture content yields flakier pastries, cookies that crisp more evenly and cakes that rise higher.

When the American brand* Plugrá, an 82% butter, was made available to consumers in 2001, it set off a buying frenzy among serious home bakers.

The brand achieved such growth that, in Land O’Lakes and other producers subsequently introduced European-style butters, and foodies-in-the-know sought out brands from small artisan producers.
 
 
DANISH CREAMERY BUTTER

In 1895, Danish immigrant families in the fertile hills of Fresno, California, formed a dairy cooperative modeled after those they’d had in Denmark.

They created Old World-quality butter made from humanely-raised cows that munch grass on the pasture of family farms. This is the beginning of great butter.

For generations, Danish Creamery butter has been available across the Western U.S., used by millions for cooking and baking and spreading on bread.

The company has now launched the crème de la crème (pun intended), European Style Butter: a velvety, 85% butter that will make your taste buds take notice.

The cream comes from the same pasture-raised cows, but with 85% butter fat for a richer taste and texture.

Go ahead, the company says: “Bake your fluffiest biscuits, your flakiest pie crusts, your butteriest cakes and pastries with this, our creamiest butter yet.”

We have, and it’s great!

For baking we use the Unsalted Butter, but there’s also Salted Butter for those who like a hint of salt at the table.

And you can find it at Wal-Marts nationwide.

Get some for your holiday baking.

If you don’t bake, get some for cooking and toast.

If your friends cook or bake, get them some.
 
 
TASTE TEST!

For enlightenment and for fun, gather up some different brands or butter—perhaps 82% Plugra and a standard supermarket brand—and do a blind taste test!

This is an especially fun tasting when you first taste a pat blind, then follow up with biscuits, muffins and scones.
 
 
Discover more at DanishCreamery.com.
 
 
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*Made by Dairy Farmers of America in Wisconsin, the name Plugra is derived from the French plus gras, which means more fat. Here’s how the best butter in France, Beurre d’Echire, is made.

[1] Bake better cookies, like this Almond Shortbread (all photos © Danish Creamery).

[2] Biscuits, popovers, scones, toast: They’re all waiting for Danish Creamery European Style Butter.

[3] Get ready to dip crab, lobster and shrimp into velvety melted butter.

[4] Make gravies and sauces richer.

[5] Even the raw cookie dough tastes better!