This year I used all New Jersey cheeses for my cheese trays on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. These five cheeses got rave reviews; each one had something special to offer. Even that little mouse on the Cherry Grove Brie in the upper left was excited! (The sixth, in the bowl, was my homemade ricotta. I … Continue reading
Filed under holidays …
Christmas
I take my father to my brother and sister-in-law’s for Christmas Eve, so am putting up a couple photos from a past year. They set a beautiful table without fail (the tree is gorgeous too). The second photo (right) is my brother’s seared tuna loin. It is just amazing, so rich that you could swear you … Continue reading
Female Food Power!
Just got back from a very convivial holiday open house put on by four area women in the food business. If you act quickly, you might still be able to place orders for some of the delicious goodies I sampled this afternoon, if not for Christmas, maybe for New Year’s entertaining. Chris Crawford of Wooden Spoon … Continue reading
Fruitcake
Don’t laugh at me, but I love fruitcake like the one pictured here that’s made with good ingredients. So how could I resist the pretty and organic (at least mostly so) fruitcakes on display in the Whole Earth Center bakery? These are made with whole wheat pastry flour, and organic dried fruits instead of the the heavily sugared and … Continue reading
Golden Egg Nog Truffles @ Donna & Company
I’m always going on about the fine artisan chocolates that come from Donna & Company in Cranford. Owner Diane Pinder also operates the Donna Toscana Chocolate Lounge in Cranford, and I have my fingers perpetually crossed in hopes of being able to buy her exquisite chocolates in the Princeton area some day. Meanwhile, you can order online … Continue reading
Holiday Gifts for Foodies
What to get that foodie friend of yours…here are some quick ideas that landed in my Inbox: Got a barbecue fanatic in the family? Maybe it’s time for a home smoker. At left you see a Bradley Smoker. They run $399 to $599. They’re electric, they use specialized wood, and there’s no actual smoke, tar, … Continue reading
Canal House Cooking N°2
Here it is, Canal House Cooking N°2 Fall & Holiday, the latest volume in the series of seasonal cookbooks from the Canal House Studio in Lambertville that debuted last summer. Melisssa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer, two very experienced food and publishing pros, have produced another winning collection of the kind of food they and their families and friends enjoy, this time for … Continue reading
Edy’s Peppermint Cones
These just looked so good that I couldn’t resist sharing! I have to confess that when I do succumb to supermarket ice cream, Edy’s is often my choice. And I tend to like these seasonal, offbeat flavors best. When I was a kid, my favorite ice cream was Ho Jo’s peppermint stick, which is probably … Continue reading
Thank You Tre Piani
FROM SOUP (er, oysters) TO NUTS (okay, this isn’t the pecan pie, but the entrée), GOOD JOB JIM! Thanks from my family to you and yours, and your great staff!
Thanksgiving Notes
We’re closing in on turkey day, and here are some options I’ve received information about for dinner in area restaurants: Dinner is served at Tre Piani in Forrestal Village (I’ll be there with my family again this year!), Noon to 6:00pm, $49 per person (less for kids). Their dinner last year was so good, heirloom turkey … Continue reading
NJ SPICE 