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At what point in time did the casserole get a bad rap? If I recall correctly, it was somewhere between the introduction of canned tuna to the mix and the invention of boxed one-dish meals ending in "Helper." It seems since we first saw the 50's housewife emerge as a picture of domestic bliss, she was consistently pictured showcasing a fine crusty topped casserole between her mitted hands. And right behind her was a happy family poised with fork and knife awaiting their turn to uncover the wonders of this mystery meal. Cookbooks from that era seem to verify the important...
by
The goal of any party is to have fun. Contrary to the experience of many, that includes the host. New Year's Eve is certainly no exception. A competent host can juggle the details as well as the cocktails. If you plan on throwing a fete on December 31st -- or on any other day for that matter -- take heed of the following advice. A few simple strategies can make the difference between a fiasco and a fiesta! Have a Theme: Granted, New Year's Eve is seemingly a theme in itself, but it is ideal to be even more specific in the planning stages. Ask yourself what kind...
by
If it's not obvious by now, y'all should know I love to eats-da-meats: chicken, steak, alligator, or snail--if it is seasoned right, I'll put it in my mouth. Okay, well, not everything: I turn up my nose at "Rocky Mountain Oysters." Nevertheless, my love of meat requires in some cosmic way that everyone I end up dating will be a vegetarian. Let's call it Joshie's Law: the cuisine preferences of your lover are inversely proportional to yours; the more you like meat, the less likely your partner will be to eat it. Because I've lived with Joshie's Law for over a decade...
by
Sometimes, after all the excessive indulgence of the holidays, a glass of fresh squeezed juice is just the ticket. We have recently discovered the joy of making our own orange juice. With a little bit of muscle, an old fashioned citrus press or reamer, and a good amount of oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, or a mix of any of the above, you can have yourself a glass of homemade goodness. My son calls it a glass of vitamins (except he says bita-mins). Of course the purpose of our most recently squeezed cup of tangerine juice was as an ingredient in a buttery holiday...
by
My husband and I are non-bread people. It's not that we don't like it. We just never buy it. We buy tortillas, pita bread, and corn chips. My husband makes submarine sandwiches, so he will buy a package of rolls every now and then. But bread? Never. On a recent trip to California to visit my parents, my mom focused on two things: feeding us and buying us presents. Most of the presents involved food. Although I can't hold that against her, because among the food-related gifts was a glorious large loaf of San Luis Obispo sourdough bread. Now, many of you...
by
What's the best way to ward off winter's chill? Well, old Europe certainly had the right idea when they mulled wines and ciders with spices and created drinks we still know today as hot toddies. What exactly is a hot toddy? While you might have known a college sports fanatic that was affectionately known to his buddies as this, you've got to go deeper to get to origins of the drink that we still know as a toddy. A hot toddy was a cocktail made with whiskey or sherry, hot water, sugar and spices. History also says that hot toddies originated in the...
by
What can I say? I am nuts for nuts. They come in all shapes, sizes, flavors and colors. They grow on trees as the seeds of fruit, and offer the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Unfailingly satisfying, nuts are like a cherry on an ice cream sundae--a little something extra to add that special touch. My love of nuts dates back to early childhood when I learned to fish for cashews and macadamias in a sea of mixed nuts crowded with almonds, peanuts and the ever-perplexing Brazil nut. Cousins and I would compete for these delicious specimens at holiday feasts...
by
It's that time of year again. Seems like there's always one last-minute thing to do, one more item to wrap, something to pick up, and another almost-forgotten gift to grab. And all on the way out the door to another get-together or party. Is everything in the car? ... the gifts, the stuff, the food, all the kids ...? It's in hectic situations like that when having the food taken care of is a true godsend. When you can toss everything into a crockpot and forget about it until it's time to eat, it's a winner. When you can do that forgetting act in the midst of the...
by
If your family is anything like mine, then holiday excitement has reached a fever pitch! We've spent the past few weeks decorating, baking cookies, wrapping, and planning our Christmas menus. With all the busyness of the holiday season, I usually have about a thousand things on my to do list on the days leading up to Christmas with the night before Christmas going late into the night. Sound familiar? It's no wonder most caregivers need triple strength coffee to get them through the festivities! We are plumb exhausted by the time Christmas morning rolls around. After such...
by
There have always been three guarantees at Christmas time for me: oranges in my stocking, lots of photographing and filming during present-opening, and sage stuffing for Christmas dinner. In my family, we always called it sage stuffing. When I came to the South, many people called it dressing. From what I could find online, there isn't really a difference. Regardless of what you call it, stuffing/dressing is all the same: bread with herbs and broth cooked inside the turkey (or sometimes out). My mom has been making sage stuffing for as long as I can remember....
by
Never in my wildest dreams did I think George Washington would be my authority on the art of egg nog. He was probably our nation's greatest leader and an unparalleled general. But a master of curing eggs and cream with rye whiskey I did not expect. Sure enough, my husband came across our first president's alleged recipe several years ago, and no nog has rivaled it since. The result is a frothy, sweet concoction sure to recall special holiday memories (unless, of course, you drink too much of it, in which case you may not remember much at all). Is This for...
by
One of the holiday traditions I always shared with my mom and sister was an evening viewing of the Sound of Music. And one of my favorite scenes in this endearing holiday classic (which isn't really about Christmas at all but came to be associated with it) is when Julie Andrews' character Maria sweetly comforts the von Trapp children with the delightful song about her favorite things. As I listen to the lyrics again, I realize that so much of the appeal of that song lay in the comforts of former nun Maria's familiar objects and foods. Lyrical imagery of Schnitzel with...
by
Impressive: a word never far from my mind when dreaming up Christmas dinner. Easy: probably the last word I am thinking of when plotting for a full day in the kitchen. Impressive and easy are two words that do not coexist well in the world of holiday cooking. This year is different. This year I want it both ways. I want dinner to be a spectacle to behold visually and taste delicious while not leaving me with a backache and sore wrists from standing and chopping all afternoon. How about (my mom suggested) fish? Not a bad idea, Mom. Individual fish...
by
Having kids in the house means that we break out the Christmas decorations and music the moment the Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away. And once the holiday season is fully underway, we are all about making cookies. So one new tradition my family has started is to make a gingerbread house on the night after Thanksgiving. We also got into the holiday spirit that same day by visiting our local botanical garden. This year they feature a Christmas display with gingerbread in all shapes and sizes. So we had extra inspiration for our house building mission that...
by
The night before Christmas can be filled with sleepless hours for many people, those who look forward to waking up in the morning to filled stockings and present-laden trees. For some, such as a lucky few in my family, Christmas Eve can mean a vigil, literally--waiting for the midnight Christmas mass. There is something about those wee hours that enhances the magic, the mystique of the holiday, even if you already know the secret about Santa Claus. Tracing its roots back to Catholics in France, Le Reveillon, literally, "the waking," is a French and...
From The Editors At CDKitchen: Feed Daily
by
At what point in time did the casserole get a bad rap? If I recall correctly, it was somewhere between the introduction of canned tuna to the mix and the invention of boxed one-dish meals ending in "Helper." It seems since we first saw the 50's housewife emerge as a picture of domestic bliss, she was consistently pictured showcasing a fine crusty topped casserole between her mitted hands. And right behind her was a happy family poised with fork and knife awaiting their turn to uncover the wonders of this mystery meal. Cookbooks from that era seem to verify the important...
by
The goal of any party is to have fun. Contrary to the experience of many, that includes the host. New Year's Eve is certainly no exception. A competent host can juggle the details as well as the cocktails. If you plan on throwing a fete on December 31st -- or on any other day for that matter -- take heed of the following advice. A few simple strategies can make the difference between a fiasco and a fiesta! Have a Theme: Granted, New Year's Eve is seemingly a theme in itself, but it is ideal to be even more specific in the planning stages. Ask yourself what kind...
by
If it's not obvious by now, y'all should know I love to eats-da-meats: chicken, steak, alligator, or snail--if it is seasoned right, I'll put it in my mouth. Okay, well, not everything: I turn up my nose at "Rocky Mountain Oysters." Nevertheless, my love of meat requires in some cosmic way that everyone I end up dating will be a vegetarian. Let's call it Joshie's Law: the cuisine preferences of your lover are inversely proportional to yours; the more you like meat, the less likely your partner will be to eat it. Because I've lived with Joshie's Law for over a decade...
by
Sometimes, after all the excessive indulgence of the holidays, a glass of fresh squeezed juice is just the ticket. We have recently discovered the joy of making our own orange juice. With a little bit of muscle, an old fashioned citrus press or reamer, and a good amount of oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, or a mix of any of the above, you can have yourself a glass of homemade goodness. My son calls it a glass of vitamins (except he says bita-mins). Of course the purpose of our most recently squeezed cup of tangerine juice was as an ingredient in a buttery holiday...
by
My husband and I are non-bread people. It's not that we don't like it. We just never buy it. We buy tortillas, pita bread, and corn chips. My husband makes submarine sandwiches, so he will buy a package of rolls every now and then. But bread? Never. On a recent trip to California to visit my parents, my mom focused on two things: feeding us and buying us presents. Most of the presents involved food. Although I can't hold that against her, because among the food-related gifts was a glorious large loaf of San Luis Obispo sourdough bread. Now, many of you...
by
What's the best way to ward off winter's chill? Well, old Europe certainly had the right idea when they mulled wines and ciders with spices and created drinks we still know today as hot toddies. What exactly is a hot toddy? While you might have known a college sports fanatic that was affectionately known to his buddies as this, you've got to go deeper to get to origins of the drink that we still know as a toddy. A hot toddy was a cocktail made with whiskey or sherry, hot water, sugar and spices. History also says that hot toddies originated in the...
by
What can I say? I am nuts for nuts. They come in all shapes, sizes, flavors and colors. They grow on trees as the seeds of fruit, and offer the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Unfailingly satisfying, nuts are like a cherry on an ice cream sundae--a little something extra to add that special touch. My love of nuts dates back to early childhood when I learned to fish for cashews and macadamias in a sea of mixed nuts crowded with almonds, peanuts and the ever-perplexing Brazil nut. Cousins and I would compete for these delicious specimens at holiday feasts...
by
It's that time of year again. Seems like there's always one last-minute thing to do, one more item to wrap, something to pick up, and another almost-forgotten gift to grab. And all on the way out the door to another get-together or party. Is everything in the car? ... the gifts, the stuff, the food, all the kids ...? It's in hectic situations like that when having the food taken care of is a true godsend. When you can toss everything into a crockpot and forget about it until it's time to eat, it's a winner. When you can do that forgetting act in the midst of the...
by
If your family is anything like mine, then holiday excitement has reached a fever pitch! We've spent the past few weeks decorating, baking cookies, wrapping, and planning our Christmas menus. With all the busyness of the holiday season, I usually have about a thousand things on my to do list on the days leading up to Christmas with the night before Christmas going late into the night. Sound familiar? It's no wonder most caregivers need triple strength coffee to get them through the festivities! We are plumb exhausted by the time Christmas morning rolls around. After such...
by
There have always been three guarantees at Christmas time for me: oranges in my stocking, lots of photographing and filming during present-opening, and sage stuffing for Christmas dinner. In my family, we always called it sage stuffing. When I came to the South, many people called it dressing. From what I could find online, there isn't really a difference. Regardless of what you call it, stuffing/dressing is all the same: bread with herbs and broth cooked inside the turkey (or sometimes out). My mom has been making sage stuffing for as long as I can remember....
by
Never in my wildest dreams did I think George Washington would be my authority on the art of egg nog. He was probably our nation's greatest leader and an unparalleled general. But a master of curing eggs and cream with rye whiskey I did not expect. Sure enough, my husband came across our first president's alleged recipe several years ago, and no nog has rivaled it since. The result is a frothy, sweet concoction sure to recall special holiday memories (unless, of course, you drink too much of it, in which case you may not remember much at all). Is This for...
by
One of the holiday traditions I always shared with my mom and sister was an evening viewing of the Sound of Music. And one of my favorite scenes in this endearing holiday classic (which isn't really about Christmas at all but came to be associated with it) is when Julie Andrews' character Maria sweetly comforts the von Trapp children with the delightful song about her favorite things. As I listen to the lyrics again, I realize that so much of the appeal of that song lay in the comforts of former nun Maria's familiar objects and foods. Lyrical imagery of Schnitzel with...
by
Impressive: a word never far from my mind when dreaming up Christmas dinner. Easy: probably the last word I am thinking of when plotting for a full day in the kitchen. Impressive and easy are two words that do not coexist well in the world of holiday cooking. This year is different. This year I want it both ways. I want dinner to be a spectacle to behold visually and taste delicious while not leaving me with a backache and sore wrists from standing and chopping all afternoon. How about (my mom suggested) fish? Not a bad idea, Mom. Individual fish...
by
Having kids in the house means that we break out the Christmas decorations and music the moment the Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away. And once the holiday season is fully underway, we are all about making cookies. So one new tradition my family has started is to make a gingerbread house on the night after Thanksgiving. We also got into the holiday spirit that same day by visiting our local botanical garden. This year they feature a Christmas display with gingerbread in all shapes and sizes. So we had extra inspiration for our house building mission that...
by
The night before Christmas can be filled with sleepless hours for many people, those who look forward to waking up in the morning to filled stockings and present-laden trees. For some, such as a lucky few in my family, Christmas Eve can mean a vigil, literally--waiting for the midnight Christmas mass. There is something about those wee hours that enhances the magic, the mystique of the holiday, even if you already know the secret about Santa Claus. Tracing its roots back to Catholics in France, Le Reveillon, literally, "the waking," is a French and...