Christmas Archives - Page 3 of 6

Preserving Family Traditions & A Recipe for Dutch Christmas Bread (Kerstbrood)

I meant to share these photos and this Dutch Christmas Bread recipe last year, but as so often happens, I was busy, and the season passed too quickly. However, as Christmas and Hanukah rolled around this year, I started reminiscing about the book and our brunch. The sentiment behind it felt even more meaningful after the major challenges of this year. It felt like this post was meant to be shared in 2020 all along.

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December 18, 2020

Christmas / Holidays

Take a Peek At My Natural Holiday Decorations

A few foraged greens, a few candles, and you have natural holiday decorations to make your season merry and bright. Come take a peek!

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December 11, 2020

Christmas / Dog / Holidays / Uncategorized

Champagne, Pork Chops & Presents: How We Christmas’d in 2018

With each passing year, I try to whittle away at my perfectionism, or at least guide it to where it is best directed (remember? lower the expectations!). Christmas morning is not one of those places. Though I want a touch of decadence, and I want to create a morning to remember and a breakfast to savor, that experience should not come at the expense of sequestering myself in the kitchen.

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December 28, 2018

Apothecary / Christmas / DIY / Gifts / Holidays

Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

Still have people on your shopping list? Skip the lines and try one of these homemade gifts for a more personalized holiday this year. There's homemade gifts for baking, bartending, sipping and self care. Plus, there's ideas for what to sip as you get crafty.

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December 21, 2018

Christmas / Cookies / Holidays

Whole Grain Linzer Cookies with Rye Flour & Lingonberry Jam

Whenever I plan gatherings, I choose to invest more time in one (or at least I *try* to invest in only one) menu item. This winter, I had been craving the flavors and simple beauty of Whole Grain Linzer Cookies, or Helle Linzer Plaetzchen if you fancy the German title. Named for the Austrian Linzer Torte, a latticed pastry with jam filling, these buttery shortbread cookies and peeks of jam feel like little ornaments. In the vein of European traditions, I chose a Swedish lingonberry jam for a burst of red filling (and because I dream of participating in a St. Lucia celebration someday!).

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December 20, 2018

Apothecary / Christmas / Gifts / Holidays

Homemade Vanilla Extract: A DIY Gift Idea

I'm choosing not to stress and to enjoy my final Christmas preparations. Homemade gifts are one of my defense mechanisms against the holiday hangups. Instead of battling feuding families in malls, hit the wine and spirits shop (extra bonus: might as well buy yourself some wine while you're there) and your favorite spice store. Two stops, and you'll have the makings of homemade vanilla extract. Cue up your favorite holiday albums (Mariah Carey and She & Him, for me please), spike the egg nog, and then, it's as simple as pouring liquid over vanilla beans.

57 Comments

December 17, 2018

Cakes & Cupcakes / Cheesecake / Christmas / Dessert / Gluten Free / Holidays / Layer Cakes

Ricotta Cake with Dark Chocolate, Pomegranate & Citrus {Gluten-Free}

I believe in salvaging old buildings, vintage pieces, rocky relationships and cake, maybe cake above all else. Three sad layers or ricotta cheesecake became a passable layer cake, and I set to smoke and mirrors trickery: dark chocolate drizzles, pomegranate arils, chocolate dipped citrus and even the pomegranate shell, which was too intricate and pretty to meet the compost bin just yet.

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January 5, 2018

Christmas / Holidays

Champagne, Plaid & Presents: How We Christmas’d

After presents, finishing touches on a dessert and sufficient lazing, we bundled up and joined the family for more festivities including a prime rib that fed everyone for days. It was all so cozy, I'm not quite ready to admit Christmas has passed. What about you? What did you bake/gift/receive? Here's to hiding under the blankets, watching the snowfall and eating cookies for a bit longer!

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December 30, 2017