TIP OF THE DAY: Flaming Egg Nog

Egg nog is more festive in goblets or martini glasses. Photo courtesy Pitch.com.   We ring in the New Year with Champagne. But before the clock strikes midnight, we dazzle guests with flaming egg nog. 1. Make or buy the nog. If you purchase it, spice it up with 1-1/2 ounces of spiced rum per…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Toasty Panettone

Panettone photo by Gabriel T. / SXC. Did you get a panettone for Christmas? Panettone, a medieval Italian Christmas yeast bread dotted with candied lemon peel, orange peel and raisins, is the Italian version of fruitcake—a popular Christmas gift. Panettone is tall, dome-shaped and airy (some say fluffy), in contrast to the other famous Christmas…
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RECIPE: And A Partridge In A Cheese Tree

Perhaps there’s still time to rearrange your cheese tray into a Christmas tree. All you need are cubes of cheese (the tree in the photo uses different flavors of Cabot Cheddar), grape tomatoes and some fresh thyme. The star on the top of the tree is a carved mushroom cap. If you don’t have the…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Holiday Shortcake

Copper cookie cutter from Amazon. Use your cookie cutters to make a special holiday “shortcake” or ice cream sandwich. 1. For an ice cream “shortcake,” slice regular or chocolate pound cake into 1/2″-3/4″ slices and use large cookie cutters to cut shapes into the cake—use a tree- or star-shaped cutter for Christmas. If the cake…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Christmas Cookie Tree

Use a small artificial Christmas tree to create a “dessert tree” centerpiece. Hang edible ornament cookies, fudge, petit fours, mint patties and other treats. The easiest technique is to tie cellophane-wrapped treats with ribbon and hang them on the tree with ornament hooks. But it makes an even prettier presentation if you cut pliable pieces…
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