Tag Archives: Christmas

Chocolate Pecan Tart

Posted on November 23, 2012 by scarpettakate

For folks who like to cook and entertain, Thanksgiving dinner is kind of our Olympics. We are decathletes of starch and sugar and tryptophan, and Turkey Day is the ultimate endurance race. The day after, though, there are no laurel … Continue reading →

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Chocolate Crinkles

Posted on December 23, 2011 by scarpettakate

These holiday cookies were a favorite of mine when I was growing up. I loved the contrast between the crackly bits of snowy powdered sugar and the chewy, chocolatey cookie beneath, the specialness of their only-at-Christmas appearances. They’re a bit … Continue reading →

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Panforte di Siena

Posted on December 9, 2011 by scarpettakate

Panforte di Siena is a specialty of that Tuscan town, a chewy-gooey confection that tastes like Christmas even if you’ve never set foot in Italy: sweet spices and honey, candied citrus, dried fruits, almonds and hazelnuts. On the books as … Continue reading →

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Sugar Cookies

Posted on December 22, 2010 by scarpettakate

Sugar cookies, the hallmark of the holiday season, are so reassuring in their simplicity: flour, sugar, eggs, butter, a pinch of salt & vanilla. It’s the arrangement (and the temperature) of those ingredients that counts: are the cookies chalky or … Continue reading →

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Gingerbread

Posted on December 15, 2010 by scarpettakate

We are in full Christmas swing, friends. The tree is trimmed, the halls are decked, I’ve had about three gallons of seasonal lattes, I’ve already indulged in a little wassailing (hello, amaretto) and my “Hot Toddy Holiday Mix” is steady … Continue reading →

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Homemade Amaretto (Part Two)

Posted on December 11, 2010 by scarpettakate

It’s been four weeks since we embarked on this little kitchen project, but I’m happy to report that our amaretto is ready! Exhale that bated breath, uncross those fingers and wonder no more, dearhearts: it is marvelous. The amaretto tastes … Continue reading →

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Pfeffernüsse

Posted on December 8, 2010 by scarpettakate

Pfeffernüsse! Perhaps the only cookie to beat out snickerdoodles in the “fun-to-say-it” department, pfeffernüsse literally translates from German to “pepper-nuts”, a nod to its spiced molasses flavor (a bit of actual black pepper included), finely chopped almonds and nuggety little … Continue reading →

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