TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Mochidoki, Ice Cream-Stuffed Mochi

Like ice cream? Get ready for a [relatively] new variation: ice cream mochi (MO-chee). Mochidoki is a delightful ice cream treat—a sophisticated re-envisioning of a classic Japanese sweet made from rice dough: a dough of pounded, glutinous (but gluten-free) sweet rice flour that is steamed and kneaded until it becomes delightfully chewy and supple, with…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Aldi For Christmas Entertaining

Recently, we went to our neighborhood specialty food store to buy appetizers for a get together with wine. Sure, the cheeses we picked were $25 a pound; our favorite crackers from La Panzanella and Raincoast Crisps aren’t inexpensive. And we do tend to buy too much. But when the cashier said, “$146.76 please,” we were…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Finally Ginger, Artisanal Ginger Cookies

[1] Finally Ginger artisan cookies are available in [2] gift tins and [3] snack packs (all photos courtesy Love From Cleveland).   What a joy: delicious ginger cookies we didn’t have to bake at home. Cookies freshly-baked just for us, because they’re baked to order. Cookies with sugar and spice and everything nice. With three…
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SuperSeedz Flavored Gourmet Pumpkin Seeds & How To Use Them

[1] SuperSeedz are available in eight flavors, both sweet and savory (photos #1 #2, #3, and #4 © SuperSeedz). [2] Maple Sugar & Sea Salt for snacks, salad mix-ins, even ice cream garnishes. [3] SuperSeedz are available in eight flavors, both sweet and savory (all photos © SuperSeedz).   Over the past 12 years of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Epicurean Butter & Holiday Compound Butters

Sophisticated cooks know how to make magic with compound butters. Many casual cooks discovered the joy of strawberry butter at restaurant brunches, and learned how easy it is to make at home (here’s more about compound butter, also called flavored butter and finishing butter). Epicurean Butter is a terrific line that makes anyone an instantly-better…
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