TIP OF THE DAY: A Delicious Vegetable Mix At Breakfast (Ratatouille)

[1] You can dice your ratatouille fine or chunky. A fine dice is a better base for the egg, crostini, etc.; a larger dice is better as a side dish (photo © Elegant Affairs Caterers). [2] Make chunkier ratatouille for a side dish (photo © The Former Chef). [3] This preparation uses a jar of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: The New Bloody Mary Garnishes

[1] Aquavit Bloody Mary with beets, a half-sour pickle spear, and fresh dill; photo © Flavor & The Menu. [2] Mary garnished with crab claw and dilly beans from Ramos House. [3] Surf and Turf Bloody Mary with bacon and shrimp, plus an antipasto skewer and, as a nod to the past, a celery stalk.…
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Eggnog History: Know Your Eggnog!

Eggnog or egg nog is a descendant of milk-and-wine punches that had long been part of European celebrations when colonists arrived in the Americas. Rum, a New World distillation, enabled a spirited substitution for the wine. And eggnog history? Eggnog became a popular wintertime drink throughout Colonial America. Then as now, people loved the rich,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Buying Champagne For New Year’s Eve

If you’re headed to the store to buy Champagne for New Year’s Eve, there are a lot of choices. Where should you start? We’ve written a lot about lower-cost sparkling wines like Asti Spumante, Cava, Crémant and Prosecco. Our Top Pick Of The Week is Yellow Tail from Australia. All are delicious bubblies, worthy of…
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Make A Hoppin’ John Recipe On New Year’s Day For Good Luck

It’s a Southern tradition to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for prosperity in the new year, especially in a recipe called Hoppin’ John. The tradition may actually stem from an ancient Sephardic Jewish custom of eating them on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. This “good luck” tradition is recorded in the Babylonian…
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