Recipe

Nutella madness

The topic of Nutella came up at a family dinner last weekend. One of my relatives had never tried it, so I brought her a little sample pack I found at the store. They make to-go packs of Nutella packaged along with some small plain bread sticks, so that you can eat it as a portable snack. Although as far as I am concerned, a regular jar of Nutella is just as portable, and who needs tiny bread sticks when you have a spoon?

Let's be honest. At least 75% of all Nutella worldwide is consumed directly off a spoon.

Image:

What the heck is mincemeat?

Mincemeat is one of those mysterious foods that crop up around Christmas time. As a child, my vague understanding was that it was like pecan pie but made with ground beef instead of pecans. Like an unholy combination of meatloaf and pecan pie, basically.

It turns out that this description is actually not too far off. In the past, mincemeat was typically made with beef suet (fat), and usually contained actual meat. However, these days it is mainly made with fruit and nuts.

Image:

Christmas gift ideas for knitters

It's hard to find gifts for crafters if you have not been given specific instructions! Here are some all-purpose suggestions for the knitter in your life.

1. Hand lotion
Knitting makes your fingers rough and scaly. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. Especially when you combine it with winter weather conditions, it's a recipe for dry hands. Some nice hand lotion or cuticle cream is always a welcome addition to the knitting kit.

Image:

Holiday Recipes: Christmas baking

Have you started your holiday baking yet? If not, here is a sweet sugar cookie recipe that you can use for making cute, ornament-shaped cookies. (Or you can just buy a loaf of sugar cookie dough and bake it!)

Image:

Shocking news: Prison wine can be bad for you

A recent report released by the Annals of Emergency Medicine reveals the source of a 2011 botulism outbreak in a Utah prison: the prison's self-styled hootch master was feeling creative, and tossed a baked potato into the mix. The resulting batch of prison wine sickened eight inmates.

Image:

All about: Eggnog

Eggnog practically doesn't count as a holiday treat anymore, with "Christmas creep" being what it is. I spotted my first eggnog this year on store shelves the week before Halloween, for pity's sake.

That being said, eggnog is still considered one of the classic Christmas indulgences. Rich, thick, creamy, and possibly containing raw eggs. It sounds weird, and it is. A lot of people don't get the deal with eggnog, which I understand. I am kind of on the fence about it, personally.

Image:

Saturday Steals: Reduced Costco Membership

Confessions of a Homeschooler has a Christmas Traditions Around the World guide you can download for free. I’m so glad I ran across it because we had to miss out on a class with the same theme last week. There are nine different countries included in the packet, including China, France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Russia and Spain. There are recipes, activities and information about each country.

Image:

All about: Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts are basically the punchline of the vegetable world. Much maligned, hated by children throughout the ages, these sprouts deserve better. And if you know how to cook them, they can be very tasty. (Really!)

Brussels sprouts are basically a lot of tiny cabbages. This cultivar of the cabbage family was cultivated in ancient Rome, although it got its popular current name from the fact that it was popularized in Europe thanks to being grown in what is now Belgium in the 13th century.

Image:

Holiday party snacks, from best to worst

Smoked salmon: A+
Smoked salmon is expensive, but it's worth it. Bring a slab of this to the next holiday party along with some crackers and a spreadable cheese (Brie, cream cheese, whatever) and you will be the hero of the night.

Trader Joe's delicious nut mixes: A-
Trader Joe's has several yummy nut options. It's the perfect party snack: doesn't leave a lot of residue on your fingers, affordable to buy, and easy to deploy. My personal favorites are the sesame cashews, coconut cashews, and the wasabi peas.

Image:

Miyake, Portland, Maine

If you’re in the region of Portland, Maine and want to find some of the freshest sushi and best Japanese cuisine around, stop by and check out Miyake. This is a restaurant that puts as much effort into the presentation as they do into the preparation, so every meal is as close to perfect as it can be. And the chef at Miyake is not afraid to get creative, putting new spins on traditional Japanese recipes, coming up with some truly tasty dishes. Though the atmosphere and food may seem classy, this re

Image:

Pages