TIP OF THE DAY: Flavored Shots

Delicious by the shot: No mixers needed! Photo courtesy Blue Chair Bay Rum.   While spiced rum has been around since the 1940s*, the more modern trend of flavored spirits began with vodka in the 1980s. The first flavored vodka, that inspired scores of other flavors, was Absolut Peppar, in 1986. Absolut Citron followed in…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Russian Iced Coffee

[1] In a tall glass or a short one, iced coffee lovers will get a kick from this drink (photo © DeLonghi).   For years, we’ve enjoyed Black Russians and White Russians, two venerable vodka-based cocktails. The Black Russian, invented in 1949, combines vodka and coffee liqueur; the subsequent addition of cream created a White…
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RECIPE: Roasted Cherry Tomato Cups – Nice Appetizer Bites

[1] Crunchy Triscuit cups (photo © Nabisco). [2] Roasted cherry tomatoes (photo © Botanica Restaurant | Los Angeles). [3] How many different varieties of Triscuit are there? The answer is below (photo © Nabisco). [4] It’s easy to grate the cheese as-needed (photo © London Deposit | Panther Media). [5] Fresh thyme sprigs (photo ©…
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RECIPE: Plum Poppyseed Cake

Old-fashioned and delicious: Plum Poppyseed Cake. Photo courtesy GoBoldWithButter.com.   Poppy seeds or plums: Which is less commonly found in baked goods? We don’t have the answer, but our response is: Both should be used more often, starting with this delicious recipe. And don’t tarry: plums are a summer fruit. Poppy seeds, obtained from the…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Don’t Boil Lobster—Grill It!

Grill, don’t boil. Photo courtesy ILoveBlueSea.com.   David Chang is a well-known New York chef and restaurateur, founder of the Momofuku restaurant group. He wants you to enjoy lobster that’s more tender. So don’t boil the lobster, he advises in an article from GQ, which the magazine shared with us. “I’ve sent thousands of lobsters…
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