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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What Is Liqueur, & The History Of Liqueur, For National Liqueur Day

October 16th is National Liqueur Day, so celebrate with a shot of your favorite. But first, what is a liqueur? Pronounced lih-CUR in French and lih-KYOOR by some Americans, it’s one of a group of after-dinner drinks that also includes eau de vie, cordial, and schnapps. Most people—including American producers and importers—use these terms interchangeably.…
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TIP OF THE DAY: 25+ Uses For Apple Butter

We were recently searching for something in the back of a friend’s pantry—at her request—and came across a jar of apple butter that looked past its prime. We checked the date. Yep, way gone. “Do you know you have expired apple butter?” we queried. “Oh that,” she replied. “Someone gave it to me years ago…
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Vermouth & Tapas For Cocktails & Brunch: A Spanish Tradition

Vermouth is enjoying a renaissance. Vermouth (ver-MOOTH) is a fortified wine—one that includes a base spirit—flavored with a proprietary mixture of botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, spices). A glass of sweet red vermouth with an orange slice or twist was long a fashionable apéritíf for café society*. In Barcelona today, vermouth and tapas are…
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Types Of Emmental, The Real “Swiss Cheese”

The U.S. is not known for its food sophistication, knowledge, or accuracy. Errors surround the most popular foods. Today’s focus is one of them, “Swiss cheese.” There is no Swiss product called “Swiss cheese,” just as there is no “French cheese,” “Italian cheese,” and so forth. It’s a generic reference, like “French wine” or “Italian…
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