RECIPE: Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds

February 25th is National Chocolate Covered Nuts Day. While you can easily head to the nearest store to pick up some chocolate-covered nuts, nut clusters or turtles, chocolate-covered nuts are something that you can easily make at home. Prefer to buy them? Our favorites are the Triple Chocolate Almonds from Charles Chocolates, coated in milk…
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When Is A Margarita Not A Margarita

Will the real Margarita please stand up? [1] Cherry Margarita (photo courtesy Created By Diane). [2] Grape Margarita (photo courtesy California Table Grape Commission. [3] Guava Margarita (photo courtesy Chef Ingrid Hoffmann). [4] and [5] The real deal, from Casa Noble Tequila: an classic Margarita and the classic with a smoked salt rim. [6] A…
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RECIPE: Chocolate Peppermint Pie For National Chocolate Mint Day

February 19th is National Chocolate Mint Day. You could grab a York Peppermint Pattie, or you could make this easy pie. It contains both white and semi-sweet chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies, plus an Oreo cookie crumb crust. The active time is 30 minutes, but it takes 6 hours to set in the fridge.…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Types Of Meringue, Plus Red Wine Meringue Cookies

All meringue begins the same: with egg whites beaten with some form of sugar. But from there, pastry chefs evolved different preparation techniques to produce different results. You may think of meringue as cookies, or dessert cups that hold fruit or mousse, like vacherins or pavlovas*. It can also be made into a cake layer…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Ice Cubes For Valentine’s Day…And More Uses For The Ice Cube Tray

[1] Red and pink layered ice cubes (photos #1 and #2 © Ocean Spray). [2] Art in a glass. [3] Add some pomegranate ice cubes (here’s how from Kelly Elko). [4] Flower ice cubes: small flowers make a big impression (here’s how from Martha Stewart). [5] More ways to use an ice cube tray: save…
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