In Slovak, that means “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” (pronounced “Ve-se-le Vee-a-no-tse ah Schast-nee No-vee Rok”) . I must admit, I love how Eastern Europe celebrates Christmas, and am thankful for Zuzana for showing me a lot about the holidays in her native Slovakia. The Criskindle Markets, the food, hand-maid ornaments and decoration, families getting [...]

Ooey. Gooey. Sugary and cinnamony sweet. I love a piping hot and bubbly bread pudding when the temperature dips down low. Especially, when smothered in a spiked whiskey caramel sauce and dalloped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

I started drooling and fantasizing over what kind of cake to make for my boyfriend. Ironically, we both celebrated our birthdays last week. I thought to myself, “Should I make a simple white (vanilla) cake with buttercream frosting? Or what about a devils chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting? Or even better what about chocolate cupcakes with [...]

Despite Jack Frost nipping at our noses, autumn and winter is the time of the year for the chestnut.  Every year as the temperature drops, families all over the world roast and prepare numerous sweet and savory dishes from the chestnut.  A favorite in my family is my father’s stuffing made every Thanksgiving.  However, this [...]

I was flipping through my copy of Culinaria Italy, and early in the book the authors told of Friuli, a region up in Northern Italy. I read an interesting story of polenta and how it came to be in Friuli back in the 17th century. It was a tale of an oppressive Venetian government and [...]