Category: Food & Dining

Spiced Honey Rum Balls

This version of old-school rum balls amps up the flavor with a few clever ingredient swaps, like graham crackers instead of traditional wafer cookies, honey to replace corn syrup, and warm spiced rum for white rum. A pinch of cinnamon brings out the rum’s spices, while a toss in coarse sugar adds sparkle and crunch….


Giving Biscotti a 2nd Chance

I first tasted biscotti long ago, when I was a cookie-loving child. I wondered how anyone could like such hard, dry, and boring so-called “cookies.” Years later, my sister-in-law tucked some homemade biscotti into my Christmas cookie box. To my surprise, they were delicious. By then, I had grown up and become an avid baker,…


The Best Food and Drink Subscription Boxes: Edible Gifts That Keep on Giving

What could be a better gift for the foodies on your list than one they can eat or drink? A gift that shows up every month! They’ll think warmly of you all year long when you surprise them with one of these subscriptions. Carnivore’s Delight Porter Road Butcher’s Choice Box This is like having a…


Sane Consumption

Year-end parties usually are liquid-y, so even before we reach the height of the celebratory season, which includes Christmas and New Year’s Eve, a bit of planning may avoid hangovers—and could well be a life-saving tactic. The suggestions that follow may sound like wet-blanket advice, but anyone who has ever suffered the worst after-effects of…


A Big Batch of Instant Pot Chickpeas Will Last for Multiple Meals

I find that the more plant-based meals I make, the more cans of chickpeas I use. Canned chickpeas are convenient and a relatively cheap source of protein and fiber. However, my grocery bags are getting heavier with the amount of canned beans I’m bringing home. So, this week I tried cooking a big batch of…


These Easy Sliders Prove Lamb Isn’t Just for the Holidays

For the longest time, I thought lamb was strictly reserved for holidays like Christmas and Easter. (My mom doesn’t eat lamb, so I only ever ate it when I celebrated holidays at friends’ houses). But about five years ago, I had my first lamb burger at a restaurant in Brooklyn, and I realized what I’d…


Norwegian Glogg (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)

Serves 4 to 6 For the Garnish (Optional) 3/4 cup dark raisins 1 cup brandy or aquavit, or boiling water for a non-alcoholic version 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted For the Wine 1 cup white sugar 2 cups water 1 bottle light, dry red wine (pinot noir, merlot, Beaujolais, malbec), or 3 1/2 cups of…


Holiday Baking, the Norwegian Way

I’m an avid baker, and the holidays are a time when I get to shine the spotlight on recipes that celebrate my Norwegian ancestry. Norwegians love their sweets, especially during the holidays, when they celebrate with syv slags kaker, or “seven types of cookies,” a Christmas tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. I…


Norwegian Spritz Cookies

Makes about 7 dozen cookies 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 2/3 cup granulated white sugar 2 large egg yolks 2 teaspoons milk, whole or 2 percent 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional (may also use other extracts or citrus zest to flavor) Food coloring, optional 2…


Pepperkaker (Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies)

Makes about 7 dozen medium-sized cookies 2/3 cup unsalted butter 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup golden syrup (see Notes) 1/4 cup heavy cream 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as…