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…
Continue reading “HALLOWEEN: Barmbrack, An Irish Tradition”

TIP OF THE DAY: European Style Butter From Land O’ Lakes

We grew up with a mom who had a wicked palate, and if she was brand loyal, you knew that brand was the best in its category. Mom only used Land O’Lakes butter; in fact, that’s how we came to know, at the tender age of five, that Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: European Style Butter From Land O’ Lakes”

TIP OF THE DAY: Cheesecake Crust Variations

We look forward to pumpkin cheesecake each fall. Photo courtesy Marisa Churchill.   The most interesting news in cheesecake these days is not the flavor. You need only head to the Cheesecake Factory for a slice of Lemon Meringue Cheesecake. If that sounds too simple, there’s this Balsamic Strawberry, Basil & Black Pepper Cheesecake. Or…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Cheesecake Crust Variations”