RECIPE: Merlot Hot Chocolate & The History Of Merlot

[1] Splash some Merlot into your hot chocolate for a cold weather warm-up (photos #1 and #4 © California Wine Institute). [2] Merlot pairs with many foods, including burgers and pizza (photo © Sutter Home). [3] For an after-work or pre-dinner glass of wine, pair Merlot with your favorite nibbles (photo © Rebelle Restaurant |…
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TIP OF THE DAY: How To Tell If A Pear Is Ripe…& Ways To Serve Pears

> World Pear Day is December 8th. > The year’s 80 fruit holidays. Below: > The history of pears. > More ways to enjoy pears, plus a recipe for easy baked pears. Pears are one of the few fruits that don’t ripen successfully on the tree. They’re picked when they have reached full size, but…
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Ginger Cookies Recipe For National Cookie Day

December 4th is National Cookie Day. While there seems to be an endless variety of cookies worldwide, there are eight basic types of cookies. The recipe below is for the ginger cookie—a seasonal choice that is neither gingerbread nor gingersnaps. Ginger cookies are a type of drop cookie. A ball of dough is dropped onto…
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COCKTAIL RECIPE: Milk Punch For Thanksgiving Or Christmas

[1] What to serve before holiday dinners: Bourbon Milk Punch (photos #1 and #2 © Woodford Reserve. [2] Woodford Reserve makes several expressions of Kentucky Bourbon, including a double-oaked version that’s a real find for oak lovers. They also distill malt, rye and wheat whiskeys. [3] You can serve milk punch in whatever glasses you…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make Rum Raisin Ice Cream

Rum Raisin ice cream is typically a holiday special in American grocery stores, although it’s delicious year-round. Raisins are plumped up with rum and mixed into vanilla ice cream. But if you buy a commercial brand, you’re more likely to get raisins plumped in rum flavor instead of alcohol. And that doesn’t produce much rum…
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