TIP OF THE DAY: Spain’s Great Red Grape For National Tempranillo Day

November 8th is International Tempranillo Day—the best known grape and red wine varietal in Spain (the holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday in November). Its name is the diminutive form of the Spanish word temprano, which means early. It was so named because the Tempranillo (temp-rah-NEE-yo) grape ripens, and is harvested, several weeks earlier…
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RECIPE: Maple Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

[1] Popcorn with fall flavors: maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice (photo © Popcorn Board). [2] Pumpkin pie spice (photo © Silk Road Spices).   Here’s some seasonal fun: popcorn with seasonal ingredients. Thanks to The Popcorn Board for the recipe.     RECIPE #1: MAPLE PUMPKIN SPICE POPCORN Ingredients 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Brown Butter, Black Butter & How To Use Them

[1] Chocolate chip cookies are even better with brown butter (photo © Bella Baker). [2] Brown Butter Parmesan Pasta. Here’s the recipe (photo Joe Lingeman | © The Kitchn). [3] Brown butter can be used as an ingredient, for sautéeing, or as a sauce (photos #3 and #4 © Go Bold With Butter). The photos…
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HOLIDAY GIFT: Robert Lambert Fruitcake

Even if you like fruitcake, the fruitcakes from Robert Lambert will raise the bar beyond any other fruitcake you’ve had. It is fruitcake for those in the know. It has nothing to do with the mass-produced versions loaded with neon candied fruit. Robert Lambert, a cookbook author and pastry chef, is one of America’s great…
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CHRISTMAS GIFT: Advent Calendar From Woodhouse Chocolate

Order quickly if you want this wonderful “Advent calendar”: Only 150 sets were made (photo #1). Unlike the old-fashioned Advent calendar where little doors were opened to reveal the day’s treat (photo #3), Woodhouse Chocolate’s 2019 version puts each treat in a separate, reusable tin. Each tin contains a wonderful chocolate surprise: hand-decorated chocolate figures,…
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