Love and Homemade Recipes —

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Baking

December 10, 2010 Breads

Imagine waking up to the comforting smell of cinnamon rolls, wrapping a warm loaf of bread in a brightly colored ribbon, and gently drizzling a sweet glaze over plump muffins – yep, it’s time for holiday baking. Each year my parent’s house in St. Louis is filled with the deep aroma of freshly baked bread, [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

December 9th – The End of Hanukkah

December 9, 2010 Dinner

The menorah is fully lit, and tonight marks the end of Hanukkah. Now it’s time to commemorate the Feast of Dedication with a special meal. Traditionally the custom is for families to eat foods fried or baked in oil, as a tribute to the small batch of olive oil that kept the lights burning during [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Homemade Candy Tips

December 9, 2010 Christmas

I adore making homemade candy during the Christmas season. Spinning sugar, melting chocolate, crushing nuts – it’s a tradition that I look forward to each year. Making candy wasn’t always easy. I remember my first batch of caramel – a complete disaster. But, with a few helpful tricks, and a great candy thermometer, I was [...]

9 comments Read the full article →

December 8th – Fireside Dinner

December 8, 2010 Christmas

Sometimes I like to image that I live in the mountains of Colorado, in a rustic lodge with huge stone fireplace. There’s a roaring fire in the hearth, and I’m snuggled up on the couch mesmerized by the snap-crackle-pop of the wood. An early evening snow begins to fall outside the windows, coating the trees [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Best Christmas Cakes

December 8, 2010 Christmas

With the holiday season comes decadence, and what’s more decadent that a big slice of cake? It doesn’t matter if it’s chocolate, red velvet, or carrot – the moist cake and rich frosting is a tasty way to celebrate the season. Here are a few of my favorite cakes for the holidays! Chocolate Turtle Cake [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

December 7th – Christmas Card Frenzy

December 7, 2010 Beverages

Around this time of year my Mom used to transform our dining room table into a little mini Hallmark. She’d have boxes of Christmas cards, stack of family photos, and a notebook full of addresses strewn across the table. For days she’d sit there, with her perfect handwriting, writing a personal note to everyone on [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

Homemade Gifts

December 7, 2010 Christmas

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to put together food gifts. Each year I sit down and scour my cooking magazines to come up with some tasty treats to give to my friends and family. I’ve always thought that a gift from the kitchen is more meaningful than a gift [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

December 6th – Happy St. Nick’s Day

December 6, 2010 Christmas

I attended a Catholic grade school when I was little. Every morning I’d put on my plaid blue jumper, sling my green backpack on my shoulders and walk up the street to school. We used to have this kind, old man as the crossing guard. He had a big, bright smile and boisterous laugh that [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Tips for Decorating Cookies

December 6, 2010 Christmas

Christmas is coming!! OK everyone, it’s time to put on that apron and start your ovens. It’s Christmas baking time. Our good friend and food stylist, Alynna Malson is back and here to help us decorate some gorgeous cookies. She’s kind enough to share her tricks of the trade to make sure your cookies turn [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

December 5th – An Early Winter Hike

December 5, 2010 Christmas

There is something so beautiful about winter. The sun glinting off the freshly fallen snow, the shimmer of the ice coated trees, the puffs of smoke escaping chimneys – it all looks so quiet, so peaceful. Often people don’t get to see the wonders of winter because they’re cooped up inside. But an early winter [...]

1 comment Read the full article →