This traditional French “yule log” is made from genoise (sponge cake), baked in a jelly roll pan, rolled, frosted with chocolate buttercream to resemble, of course, a log, and may be decorated with sugar (“snow”) and meringues (“mushrooms”). One end is usually cut and the icing textured to really get the full log effect. Here are some links to buche … Read More ...
There’s Still Time! Last Minute Food Gifts
Check out these quick recipes (with my own packaging suggestions) from Real Simple Magazine‘s site for last minute Christmas gifts. Recipes include these sugarplums, rosemary-olive oil bread (would be nice packaged in a nice bread pan, wrapped in cello, and with the recipe attached), nutted popcorn (wrapped in a popcorn container and with a gift certificate to a … Read More ...
Cool Down this Christmas
I’m so immersed in a Christmas world that is synonymous with snow and winter, comments about the heat-filled days of all those celebrating in the Southern hemisphere inspired me to search for a site NOT consumed with having a frosty Christmas. Taste.com.au is filled with such Christmas recipes. Cool down with their ice cream desserts, panna cottas and semifreddos. 
Find … Read More ...
BitterSweet, Part One
These Christmas trees made from chocolate cake, mint frosting and sprinkles are just too cute. BitterSweet tells us how to make them from cone shaped paper cups (not waxed). And now, check out my next post, BitterSweet Part Two. I had to devote two entries to this blog so you wouldn’t miss out on all the great things offered.… Read More ...
Hanukkah Party Goodies
Make this cute dreidel box to fill with nuts, candy and other goods from Martha. She includes a free downloadable template. And give away these “glittered” sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts…in keeping with the tradition of eating fried foods for Hanukkah). Recipe and packaging how-tos on Martha as well. 
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Celebrate Sangria Day
December 20th is National Sangria Day. At least in the U.S. Even if you’re elsewhere in the world, I think celebrating National Sangria Day as an excuse to make this yummy, fruity drink is perfectly OK. Find a recipe for white sangria (my favorite, and pictured above) at recipetips.com. rEZipes.com claims to have the “best sangria recipe online,” a … Read More ...
Make Your Own Marzipan
I’ve worked with marzipan before, molded it, shaped it, even painted it. But I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve never made it. After reading how the self-proclaimed holiday grinch of Velvet Lava Cafe commited to the task, I’m REALLY ashamed I’ve not made it. Even with the admitted difficulties of working with marzipan, the photos on this site are so … Read More ...
Chanukah O’ Chanukah (desserts and more)
Find all kinds of inspiration for Chanukah from BetterRecipes.com. They have ideas for food, entertaining, decorating, games, songs, and gifts and a bit on the traditions and history of Chanukah. Follow links to Better Homes and Gardens for this dreidel cake. 
Or to the cookies you see above. And for Sufganyot, seen here. 
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You Have the Power to Decide…Your Dessert Topping
Voting is a powerful gift. And Smuckers agrees. You can go to their website and vote on a limited edition ice cream topping. Choose Black Cherry, Apple Cinnamon, or Magic Shell Cupcake Topping. Hmmm, tough choice, and I’m not trying to sway you, but I am partial to the latter two. In case you were taking a poll.
And … Read More ...
Homemade Cocoa Mix (as Promised)
Making some homemade marshmallows for gifts or for yourself? These recipes and packaging tips for hot cocoa mix are the perfect complement. First, find mini cocoa gifts from the blog of Cathy Filian, as seen on Creative Juice on HGTV and DIY. Next, learn to make these hot chocolate cones from the crafty blog, “about a girl.” 
And … Read More ...
Marshmallows! (Coming Soon…the Cocoa)
It’s definitely turning to winter here in DC, even if there isn’t any snow on the ground. (Sigh. I wish it would snow.) What’s better this time of year than a steaming mug of hot chocolate? A steaming mug of hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows. Here are three blogs with three different recipes.
First, pictured above, “The Homesteading Housewife… Read More ...
Fun Christmas Snowman Treats You Can Make In Your Kitchen
Better Homes and Gardens has a set of 9 super cute snowman-inspired sweets so you can honor Frosty, including the egg nog bowl pictured, cupcakes, ice cream in white chocolate cups, milk glass with donut hole heads (also pictured), Sno-balls and mints.
To answer the comment below about the failed link, no! you didn’t do anything wrong! Because this is … Read More ...
Make Rugelach
Rugelach, a traditional Jewish crescent-shaped pastry, hails from Eastern Europe (Americans added the cream cheese to the recipe). My limited research found several Yiddish interpretations for rugelach, including “little twists” and “royal” and I won’t claim to know the answer. Here are a few recipes to make your own. First, find chocolate cherry rugelach from Family Fun (pictured above). Find … Read More ...
Red and White Inspiration
How ridiculously cute is this curly-cue candy cane? The blogger at SugarEd Lagniappe did a great decorating job on this cookie (find the cutter at Country Kitchen Sweetart). 
Find more red and white inspiration at SugarEd, like these white chocolate-dipped marshmallows covered in peppermint crunch and peppermint powder (also at Country Kitchen Sweetart). 
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Green Tea and Red Rice Swirly Bread
This bread is not only full of good, healthy stuff, but it just looks so intriguing. The blog, Apple Pie, Patis, and Pate (I’ll ask forgiveness for omitting the accents, as I can’t figure out how to add them on my computer), teaches us how to make this bread with easy-to-follow instructions and, as a bonus, with worldwide-friendly measurements. I … Read More ...