Traditional springerle are white, anise-flavored cookies stamped with a mold or rolling pin. Springerle first became popular in16th century Germany before spreading to Alsace and Switzerland. Springerle can be traced to the winter Pagan celebration of Germanic tribes, Julfest, in which animals were sacrificed to the gods for a mild winter and early spring. Poor people brought animal-shaped breads and … Read More ...
Pretty Pumpkin Cupcakes
Smitten Kitchen brings us these yummy looking pumpkin cupcakes with maple-cream cheese frosting (adapted from a recipe by David Leite). AND she also provides a couple links to tutorials on making these beautiful frosting roses. It’s not as tough as it looks, she promises. I’ve been so stuck in two-dimensional frosting art, that these are definitely inspiring me to … Read More ...
Dessert Mix Gifts
What to get for the person who has everything? Edible gifts. Everyone needs to eat, so you can’t go wrong. And ideas from these lovely, crafty bogs sound yummy.
First, WhiMSy love gives a tutorial on making cookie mix jars, based on a recipe from allrecipes.com. As a bonus, she includes fun photography to guide you.
Next, not only … Read More ...
Walking Through a Pocky Wonderland
I’m so glad to have stumbled upon “Not Quite Nigella,” a lovely, Australia-based foodie blog. Travel with the writer through her pocky forest. She provides details of her journey making this Japanese treat (cookie sticks dipped in chocolate) as well as gorgeous photography, recipes, how-tos and tips along the way. She experimented with organic fairtrade cocolo, cranberries, … Read More ...
Sweet Turkeys
Perhaps Tom would prefer you nibble on these turkey desserts rather than the real thing! Here are some ideas and links to how-tos for cupcakes, cakes, and more to celebrate turkey day.
The first is the most complicated of the bunch, but look how full of character he is. The detailed instructions can be found at pastrywiz.com. This site … Read More ...
Veggie Vases…Perfect Fall Centerpieces
I’ll be sure to write about this website more, as Celebrations.com has no end to their party ideas, recipes, crafts, tips and activities for holidays, themed parties and more. But for now, I’ll just focus on one tiny corner of their site: these veggie centerpiece vases. They’re all pretty easy to make, and Celebrations gives you all the step-by-steps. See … Read More ...
Throw a Snowy Party…or Install a Skylight
O’ Domino…. so much more than a magazine. Their site offers decorating galleries, a hearty blog, DIY projects, answers, crafts, how-tos and more. Learn how to build a fire, make homemade Christmas ornaments, remove wallpaper, build a closet, install a skylight, consolidate old lipsticks. Click here for ideas on planning a White Christmas party (see the picture above), like serving … Read More ...
Pumpkin Martinis and More Pumpkin Cocktails
Some flavours just wrap around you like a snug blanket, and pumpkin is one of them. Every year, as soon as the mornings feel the tiniest bit crisp, I find myself craving something creamy, spiced, and comforting. A few years back, at a little pre-holiday catch-up with girlfriends (the sort where everyone brings a plate but we all end up … Read More ...
Let it Snow…Let it Snow…Let it Snow…
Check out all of these snow-inspired foodie products… From Sur la Table, the Holiday Ice Cream Sandwich maker. Ice cream. Snowman. Yep, that sounds about right.
Crate and Barrel has snowman and snowflake pancake molds and cookie presses. 
Williams Sonoma has the cake pan. 
Decorate your refrigerator with this magnet set from Spoon Sisters. 
And thank you … Read More ...
Rice Krispie Treat Ideas
O’ Rice Krispie treats. Is there nothing you can’t become? The Rice Krispies home page offers lots of recipes and ideas for the classic treat, including turkeys and this silly drumstick, but many for other occasions and holidays. The photo above comes from the version on allrecipes.com.… Read More ...
Turkey Pops are Here!
I was waiting for them, sure their arrival must be imminent. Bakerella’s famous cake pops dressed up as turkeys. I knew a fall or Thanksgiving theme was coming, but what would it be? Pilgrims? Cornucopias? Pumpkins? Turkeys, of course. The link to Bakerella’s turkey pops is found here. Her blog also offers the step by steps to make cake … Read More ...
Pumpkin Ideas. And entertaining, collecting, projects, French treats, chocolate, sugar….
These pumpkins are just two little id
eas of many found on the gorgeous, part-fine art, part-inspiration, part-practical site of Matthew Mead, producer, stylist, author. It’s easy to lose much time milling about this site, so nicely polished I can see my reflection. Stunning photography and layout reveal ideas, tips, recipes, crafts and more on home, kitchen, entertaining, collecting … Read More ...
Fall Baking: Pies!
First, check out this reversible pie-top cutter by Nordic Ware, available at Sur la Table. It has leaves on one side and apples on the other. (You can also use the cut out pieces to decorate your dough).
Second, Williams Sonoma also sells these Fall Leaves piecrust cutters
. The stamps even have intricate detailing to imprint the leaf … Read More ...
Owl Cupcakes (What a Hoot!)
OK, groan at the whatta hoot part, but not the cupcake part. So cute and clever and easy to make–with Oreos and M & Ms. The instructions are courtesy of “Ezra Pound Cake,” a wonderful foodie site by a pastry chef/writer. Of course, she had me at her site name (as a fellow lit masters gal, I appreciate … Read More ...
Spider Eggs and Candy Corn
The lovely, dense (as in, lots o’ recipes) blog of “The Recipe Girl” has many many many topics and links to peruse. She gives great step-by-step instructions for these scary spider eggs, as well as beautifully done photographs. The spider eggs were originally Martha’s idea, as she is sure to give credit where credit is due, … Read More ...