FOOD 101: The History Of Chocolate-Covered Cherries

January 3rd is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day. Here’s a history of the popular bonbon, adapted from an article by Esther Martin-Ullrich which appeared in Candy Favorites. Chocolate-covered cherries, more formally called cherry cordials, are a chocolate shell filled with a cherry and sugar syrup, plain or flavored with alcohol.   IT BEGAN WITH THE…
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RECIPE: Peppermint Marshmallows Recipe

[1] Make peppermint marshmallows with a green or red swirl (photo courtesy McCormick). [2] You can cut shapes with cookie cutters (here’s how from Martha Stewart). [3] Marshmallows with red food color (photo courtesy Plush Puffs).   Let everyone else go crazy at the mall, crazy with wrapping paper, crazy with Christmas dinner prep. We…
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FOOD FUN: Christmas Tree Brownies & Peanut Butter Cups

There are plenty of chocolate Christmas trees and tree-shaped holiday cookies. But these two treats from Orange Glad Box, which is a box delivery service for gourmet sweets.     1. CHRISTMAS TREE BROWNIES Ingredients Brownie recipe or mix Christmas tree cookie cutter Mini candy canes Green icing (soft frosting or hard royal icing Candy…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Cake Truffles & Other Sweets

[1] The most glamorous cake truffles, from Kim Crawford and Mini Melanie Bakery. Both the wine bottles and truffles are limited edition for the holidays. (photo Kim Crawford). [2] Santa’s Coal marshmallows are a spin on cookies and cream (photos #2 and #3 XO Marshmallow). [3] Peppermint marshmallows are seasonal special. Imagine melting them in…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make Sugar Plums

“Visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.” So goes a line from the immortal poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas.”* Yet how many of us have recited or sung that line without knowing exactly what a sugar plum was? No matter what today’s confectioners sell as sugar…
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