FOOD FUN: Naked Easter Cake With Chocolate Nest

We had never heard of naked cake when, in our first apartment, we began to bake Easter cakes. For years, we had a Nordicware lamb-shape cake mold. We baked a chocolate cake (a black sheep, as it were), frosted it in vanilla, and covered it with white flaked coconut. One year, we outgrew the lamb,…
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Ham & Cheese Biscuits Recipe: Homemade Biscuits For Breakfast

We love to start the new year with homemade biscuits—a different type each year. This year, it’s ham and Gruyère, with fresh chives.     THE HISTORY OF BISCUITS The word biscuit dates to ancient Latin: bis cotus, meaning twice baked. These words form the origin of biscotti: initially a hard food with a long…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Holiday Champagne Alternatives

Whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve, Champagne is a tradition in holiday homes; that is, holiday homes with means. Champagne, by far the most famous sparkling wine in the world, is in the highest demand. But can only be produced on limited acreage, the region of Champagne, in northeast France. The worldwide demand…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Australian Lamb

While Mom always served great meals, a leg of lamb was a special treat. It was the star of our yearly Easter dinner, served with mint jelly and sides of spring peas and roasted potatoes. When the folks from Aussie Lamb contacted us with the offer to try Australia-raised lamb, they didn’t have to twist…
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FOOD FUN: Easter Popcorn Recipe

For an Easter weekend snack, how about some “Easter” popcorn? Just combine plain popcorn with an Easter-theme confection: pastel sprinkles, mini pastel jelly beans or baking chips. We use pastel mint chips from Guittard, but a trip to the nearest candy store will yield other choices. You can go one step further and make white…
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