Baklava

Baklava is a dessert as old as time, to use the phrase loosely. Originating from Turkey probably in the 15th century but perhaps earlier, this layered pastry has now spread throughout the Balkans and Middle East: Serbia, Bulgaria, Jordan, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Syria, Georgia, Greece. The recipe varies slightly from country to country and region to…

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Chocolate Chip Waffles

Chocolate chip pancakes never did agree with me. The first time I had them was at a slumber party in elementary school. They were too sweet and too much like dessert to a kid whose palate was accustomed to Cheerios and shredded wheat. YEARS later, in present day, I’ve discovered chocolate chip waffles. DUUUUDE. Where…

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Meyer Lemon-Olive Oil Cake

I’d heard tale of this cake for many moons before I finally tried making it myself. The thought of using an entire half-cup of fancy and expensive extra-virgin olive oil in a cake was what put me off it for so long. Fortunately, after 3+ years of cooking for a living, my miserly ways have…

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Trifle Recipe — Christmas in England

trifle recipe

English Trifle recipe Video (scroll down for printable recipe) Part seven in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in England, focus on: TRIFLE! The Trifle was one of my grandmother’s signature desserts. For as much as she loved to eat, she really did not enjoy cooking and rarely did it that I recall, except…

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German Cinnamon Stars – Zimtsterne

Cinnamon Stars Video (scroll down for printable recipe) Part six in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in Germany, focus on: ZIMTSTERNE! A naturally gluten-free almond meringue cookie. I’d be lying my ass off if I told you these were in any way “easy” or “foolproof”. “Pain in the ass” and “kind of frustrating”…

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Buñuelos Navideños – Colombian Christmas Buñuelos

bunuelos navidenos

Buñuelos Navideños Video Demo (scroll down for printable recipe) Part five in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in Colombia, focus on: BUñUELOS! Muchas gracias a Cristina for this recipe and others that she has shared with me. ¡Abrazos! Colombian buñuelos Navideños are quite different from any buñuelos I’d seen before. These buñuelos are…

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Bourbon or Rum Balls

rum balls

Part three in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in the USA, focus on: BOURBON (or rum!) BALLS! Watch all the videos on YouTube! Bourbon (or rum) balls are one of the world’s oldest confections, originating I imagine, as a way to make use of broken, old, or stale things that are otherwise inedible.…

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Scotch Shortbread — Christmas Cookie Recipe

scotch shortbread recipe

Walkers Scottish Shortbread was always in our Christmas stockings from my grandmother Hornsby. She loved shortbread, especially with a cup of tea (bonus points if it was Yorkshire Gold) but I think I’ve mentioned many times by now, she never cooked or baked much of anything herself. So maybe she wouldn’t even like this shortbread…

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Sufganiyot – Hanukkah Jelly Donuts

sufganiyot

Thanksgivukkah is nigh! The first time since the dinosaurs that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coincide! Perhaps not quite that long, but for sure the once and only time it will happen in our lifetimes, so it might as well be Jurassic times. Sufganiyot (or sufganiyah, singular or סופגנייה‎ in Hebrew) are the original jelly donuts, I’d…

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