Hot Buttered Rum Recipe & The History Of The Drink

January 17th is National Hot Buttered Rum Day. We’ve always been piqued about why Colonial Americans put butter into a mug of hot rum, so we drilled down. First, what is hot buttered rum? It’s a toddy with butter. What’s a toddy? A toddy, or hot toddy, is a warm cocktail concocted to add a…
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Why Don’t Asian Teacups Have Handles & The Right Temperature For Tea

[1] Most Asian countries serve tea in handle-less cups (photo © Kanaya Tea). [2] These are freshly-picked tea leaves (photo © Paulina H | Unsplash). [3] Matcha, originally a ceremonial tea only, has even smaller cups (photo © T2 | Unsplash).   If you eat at Asian restaurants, you may (or may not) have given…
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A Great Whole Grain: Quinoa Recipes For National Quinoa Day

National Quinoa Day is January 16th, celebrating a whole grain* that came to prominence in the U.S. about a decade ago. Yet, many people have never tried it. Those who have are nutrition-oriented, excited that quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa or KEE-noo-ah) contains more high-quality protein than any other grain. In fact, it’s a complete protein: It…
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Fig & Ham Sandwich Recipes

[1] Crusty country bread topped with fig jam, ricotta, San Daniele ham (a sweeter alternative to prosciutto) and arugula. [2] Roasted ham, fresh figs and arugula on a baguette (photo © The Model Bakery | St. Helena, California).   January 16th is National Fig Newton Day, but we have no Newtons at hand. We do,…
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Rosemary & Grape Focaccia Recipe For Snacking & Cocktails

Get ready for weekend cocktail hour with this Rosemary & Grape Focaccia recipe from King Arthur Baking. Roasting the grapes concentrates their flavor and tightens their texture. When baked on top of focaccia and garnished with fresh rosemary, the result is a flatbread that’s excellent for snacking, or for pairing with cheeses and charcuterie or…
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