TIP OF THE DAY: Pairing Breads & Spreads

Make crunchy, Mexican-style snacks with baby bell peppers (© photo courtesy The Laughing Cow.)   The Laughing Cow makes eight flavors of spreadable cheese, and sent us suggestions for pairing the different spreads with complementary breads and crackers. These fun snacks can be served as hors d’oeuvre with beer, cocktails or wine; as a casual…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Choucroute Garnie

Now that there’s as chill in the air, the people of Alsace have been cooking up their famous recipe, Choucroute Garnie—pronounced shoo-CROOT gar-NEE and translating to dressed sauerkraut. The “dressing” consists of sausages and other salted meats and, typically, potatoes. It’s stick-to-your-ribs goodness on a chilly day. You know it’s autumn when the dish appears…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Pumpkin Custard With Maple Pecan Crunch

As an alternative to pumpkin pie—or perhaps in addition to it—how about some pumpkin custard? It’s eggier and richer than conventional pumpkin pie filling, and because there’s no crust, it’s gluten free. This lovely recipe, from Nielsen Massey, is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. If you don’t have ramekins or custard cups, use 6-ounce teacups. How…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Pumpkin Beer & Pumpkin Ale

Even George Washington was a fan of pumpkin beer. He brewed his own, of course. Photo courtesy CraftBeer.com.   Thanks to Julia Herz of CraftBeer.com for today’s tip: Pick up some pumpkin beer or ale. In fact, have a pumpkin beer tasting for Halloween (with or without costumes), and bring it instead of wine to…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

[1] Fresh, warm donuts with an apple cider glaze (photo © Karo Syrup). [2] Fragrant cinnamon, ground from the bark of the cinnamon tree, scents the donuts (photo © American Heritage Chocolate).   On Thursday we purchased an apple cider donut at our local farmers market. It was just OK, with no detectable hint of…
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