HALLOWEEN: Barmbrack, An Irish Tradition

Fruitcake lovers and tea cake lovers: It’s time for barmbrack, also known as barm brack, barnbrack or simply brack. Brack? The original barmbrack was a sweet yeast bread with raisins and sultanas. Barm is the term for the yeast filtered out of beer in the final stage of production, a cheaper yeast source than commercial…
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HALLOWEEN: Jack O’Lantern History & Macarons

Yummy jack o’ lantern macarons from Williams Sonoma. Here’s the history of macaroons and macarons. Photo courtesy Williams-Sonoma.   We love these jack o’lantern macarons, made exclusively for Williams-Sonoma by Dana’s Bakery. We asked ourself: We know the history of Halloween, but not how the jack o’lantern got its name. So we researched it, and…
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RECIPE: Pumpkin Lasagna & Pumpkin Ravioli Lasagna

[1] Pumpkin lasagna made in a Dutch oven (photo © Williams Sonoma).   How about a festive pumpkin lasagna for Halloween or Thanksgiving? One of the tips to enjoy a rich, hearty dish like lasagna is to serve it in smaller portions as a first course. Our friend Ruth’s Italian-American mother always served a pasta…
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