Swedish Orange Cardamom Stars
These Swedish Orange Cardamom Stars provide a festive and light dessert that will pair nicely with the cocktail and further our theme of glitter and sparkles for New Year’s. You can make the dough ahead a couple of days and store in the refrigerator, but baking ahead isn’t the best. These are definitely a cookie that’s... Read More→
Fava Bean and Orange Bruschetta
Bruschetta is a great make ahead appetizer and this Fava Bean and Orange Bruschetta is both gorgeous and unexpected. With frozen vegetables and plentiful citrus fruits, it’s festive and seasonal. Fava Bean and Orange Bruschetta is also fairly healthy, which is a great way to ring in the New Year. 1 cup fava beans, shelled and... Read More→
Plum Sparkler
A New Year’s Party requires a special cocktail, complete with lots of bubbles. New Year’s Eve is all about the champagne, so if you’re making a cocktail, you better make it a champagne cocktail, which is exactly what I did when I made my Plum Sparkler. If you spent your fall packing fruit into brandy,... Read More→
Guacamole
For a tamale party, you’re going to need lots of snacks and drinks, so Guacamole is a must. It’s a serious crowd pleaser and you get to eat avocados. My favorite. Make sure you read to the bottom of my Guacamole recipe, the real prize to this recipe is the “notes” at the bottom: what... Read More→
Tamale Dough
I’m no tamale expert, unless you count eating them, but last year I adopted the tradition of making tamales for Christmas using Anna Zepaltas recipe (I really liked hers because it used part butter and part lard, rather than the traditional all lard. I think the flavor makes a superior tamale dough). I had never... Read More→
Cranberry Butternut Squash Bread Pudding
This Cranberry Butternut Squash Bread Pudding is a wonderful make-ahead Winter brunch dish. It’s great sweet or savory and I like it best served as breakfast, not dessert. In fact, this started as a very savory butternut squash bread pudding I made as a side years ago for Thanksgiving. Though it was good, it was... Read More→
Danish Puffs
The second almond dessert of the week, as promised: Danish Puffs. The flaky crust, the custardy egg puff that is pâte à choux, the buttery sweet almond frosting, the crunchy almonds… such an amazing complement. My mom, sister and I used to make these on Christmas Eve and then we frosted them Christmas morning, while... Read More→
Grandpa P.O.’s Nog! – Eggnog
This Grandpa P.O.’s Nog! – Eggnog is the real deal. Grandfather Peter Olaf Peterson’s recipe. Raw eggs. Real cream. 100 proof wild turkey. It’s not good for you. It might even be considered toxic. I make it once a year. Did I mention it’s amazing? Definitely make a little more than you need, because my... Read More→
Norwegian Almond Bars
Close in time to making these Norwegian Almond Bars, my sister asked me to rank pistachios, cashews, peanuts and almonds in order of preference. I told her it was impossible, except that I knew peanuts were always last. Which is not to say I don’t like peanuts, I just like them less than the others.... Read More→
Holiday Décor
I love setting the scene with Holiday Décor. These winter decorations make the house feel cozy and warm when it’s cold outside. Added bonus, with all the fresh fir and citrus, it makes everything smell good too. I like using seasonal ingredients as Holiday Décor while they await their turn to be the kitchen stars... Read More→
Winter’s Eve Mice Cookies
While it’s true that there are lots and lots of cookies already hanging around in offices and lounges everywhere, I promise you’re going to need to make one more recipe, these Winter’s Eve Mice Cookies. Because they are the cutest cookies EVER. It doesn’t hurt that they’re also really delicious. It’s a fun cookie to... Read More→
Happy Birthday Eggs Benedict
I wouldn’t do it often, especially for myself, but there’s no better way to say “I love you” and “Happy Birthday” than brunch. And brunch doesn’t get much better than Eggs Benedict. So today, instead of cake, I made myself what I really wanted: Happy Birthday Eggs Benedict. And I even made some spinach to... Read More→
Poached Eggs
I hear all the time how daunting poached Eggs are, and how they’re only something to make for one person or two, because they take too long to make, but I have news for you. Poached eggs are a snap for a group because they’re actually a great make ahead item. As for daunting technique,... Read More→
Hollandaise Sauce
Ah Hollandaise Sauce, so simple, yet so tricky. Why do you tempt us so with your lemon butter goodness and very few ingredients only to break and curdle and overcook? Don’t worry, I have a few tips that make making Hollandaise Sauce go smoothly (pun intended) that I’ve learned along the way. “The way” meaning... Read More→
English Muffins
Let me start out by saying that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with store bought English muffins. I highly recommend the Bay’s brand and use them 99% of the time. That said, it’s my birthday today, and I’m making Eggs Benedict. So I went all in and made the English Muffins too. It’s cold and snowy and... Read More→
Grasshopper Brownies
Holiday sweets are on the menu here at Dirty Laundry Kitchen including Grasshopper Brownies, a family favorite. I know we all have lots of parties this month, which means hostess gifts, cookie shares, school cookies, and of course, cookies for Santa, if your family is into that sort of thing. Grasshopper Brownies is one of those... Read More→
Snowstorm Hot Chocolate
Today it’s the first big snow in Philly (and lots of other places, I’m sure) and with that came Snowstorm Hot Chocolate. If you were watching the Eagles game, you saw that it was a near whiteout. Marc and I celebrated our afternoon walk with a little Snowstorm Hot Chocolate by the fire. The little dash... Read More→
Tart and Spicy Ginger Spritz Mocktail
With all of the busy Thanksgiving posting and leftover making, I haven’t shared a cocktail in awhile, so I’m rectifying that today with a Tart and Spicy Ginger Spritz Mocktail. Over the holidays, as I hosted several delightful pregnant women, I was reminded of something. Did you know that you can make drinks without alcohol... Read More→
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Curry Puffed Grains
This year, I made a lot of sweet potato purée for my Caribbean Thanksgiving Menu, and there was a lot leftover. What to do? Of course, that brought the enjoyable challenge of creating sweet potato recipes, which I can never get enough of just the way they are, but Marc, not so much. So I... Read More→
Sweet Potato Purée with Curry Puffed Grains
This is the first peek at my Thanksgiving 2013 menu in the form of Sweet Potato Purée with Curry Puffed Grains. I’m sharing it so that I can post another leftover recipe later this week. Yum. Sweet Potato Pancakes. How did we get to pancakes, when I’m supposed to be writing about Thanksgiving? It all... Read More→