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This year I’ve added two new cookies to my Christmas cookie repertoire: white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and lemon-almond snowballs, both of which I find irresistible. In the weeks ahead I will make a batch of this classic cream cheese cutout dough, which I will set on the table along with rolling pins and cookie cutters, and I’ll let the children go to town. As always, I could never let the holiday season pass without making Kristina’s Molasses Crinkles, Simple Classic Shortbread, and Chewy Chocolate Sugar Cookies....

Black lentils cook quickly, hold their shape, and have a nice texture and flavor. They behave very similarly to French green lentils but cook more quickly. Friends, do you know about black lentils? I bought them on a whim, and then immediately made this spinach recipe from Stacy Adimando’s Piatti, which calls for garnishing the lentils with a plump ball of burrata. As Ina says: How bad can that be?...

Ready? First: you need some gear. First, you need to do one thing. The single most important step you can take to make bread baking a simpler and more enjoyable process is invest in a digital scale. This one, pictured above, costs under $10. Do it. I’ll explain why in a minute. Here’s where you’ll start your bread baking journey: My Mother’s Peasant Bread: The Best Easiest Bread You Will Every Bake....

With very little time on hand, each morning is like running a marathon- packing everyone’s lunch box, sending them to school/office and feeding them a healthy and a well balanced nutritious meal. This is my morning routine, and I bet you all are in the same boat. To sail through the morning hour smoothly, I have my raw materials ready, and my meal plans chalked out for the next day; starting with breakfast....

These bread rolls are a staple in my house – fried or not, we relish them anyhow. We love these vegan bread rolls, as they are reasonably portable, convenient to eat, and mess-free. Simply, grab the rolls on your way out to work, or kids can eat them on their way to school. It’s that simple! The stuffing is carefully sealed and wrapped in a damp slice of bread and shaped into a cylindrical roll....

It not only packs nutrition but a myriad of colors too, which makes it look glamorous and completely drool-worthy. This Chickpea Salad is adaptive, customizable, and great for lunch, potlucks, and picnics. The best part is that this mouth-watering salad is portable and loved by all ages. This delicacy uses nutrient-rich ingredients- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), fresh veggies, and feta cheese, which are tossed in a tangy dressing, making this recipe an irresistible indulgence....

One of the hardest things about dinner time is to create meals the whole family loves. Everyone has their preferences and matching their needs could be challenging and hectic. Luckily, there is one meal that everyone in my family enjoys the most – Chicken and Bean Tacos. Crispy taco shells filled with yummy chicken and bean filling. This combo (chicken and beans) is so yum and delicious that it will leave everyone craving for more....

But the shopping experience continues to feel surreal: there’s an uneasiness in the air; no one is making eye contact; everyone is on a mission, moving through the aisles with real urgency, hoping to get in and out as quickly as possible. This is to be expected and understood, of course, and while it doesn’t feel like complete panic, the absence of the normal is palpable. Friends, I’m hoping you, too, are seeing your store’s stocks back at normal-ish levels and that you are able to find what you love and need (TP!...

Looking for an airy and light Eggless Cake Recipe? Then give this cake a try. It’s the perfect teatime cake which is super moist and has the right amount of sweetness. Have been baking this cake since my college days (using regular flour and more baking powder) and every time it’s a WINNER! This easy-to-follow eggless cake recipe is made with ingredients right off your pantry. Instead of using the regular all-purpose flour, How to bake a Perfect Eggless cake recipe?...

These quick and easy Grilled Mongolian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are packed with tons of flavor, so light yet so filling. A delicious, gluten-free meal for those busy weeknights! Deciding what to cook for dinner can be a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be like that. Beat the weeknight dinner blues with this super easy Grilled Mongolian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. These lettuce wraps are light, fresh and have so much flavor that you won’t even realize you’re eating a low-carb and low-calorie dinner tonight....

Friends, sandwich season is upon us. We’ve got our buns and bread down. Let’s polish up on our condiments. I had forgotten how much I love flavored mayonnaise till a few weeks ago, when I ordered the 44 Special at the Copake General Store. The garlicky mayonnaise spread across the toasted bread provided a creaminess and richness while also imparting bite and flavor. I have no idea if the CPG makes their mayonnaise from scratch, but I returned from Copake eager to make aioli, which in essence is a very garlicky mayonnaise—the two condiments are made nearly the same way....

This is a base recipe to all our cooking needs whether be Marinara sauce, pizzas, pastas, Indian meals, subzis or curries. Homemade tomato puree is not as difficult as it sounds. I always keep a jar full of homemade tomato puree ready in my fridge/freezer at all the time. It comes in really handy, saves a lot of time and above all it is HOMEMADE!! Use thick pulp-y red tomatoes for this recipe....

Between busy schedules and hectic routines, dinner time struggle is real. I can so relate to it. Amidst all the chaos, at times, the thought of making dinner is quite overwhelming and exhausting. That’s where this Instant Pot boiled onion tomato masala/sauce becomes a lifesaver. Having this onion tomato masala/sauce ready in the refrigerator can make your life so much easier as it’s: the perfect foundation to many Indian curries,blends well with veg or non-veg curries,with a little effort, it’s possible to eat authentic, tasty Indian meals every day and, the best part: you can make a lot of recipes in less than 30 minutes....

For a well-rounded meal, serve your sandwich with a side of Kung Pao Brussels sprouts. Cooking lunch for two or feeding a large crowd? There’s a sandwich recipe for all occasions. Margherita Sandwich Recipe from picnics to a potluck, holiday lunch, or dinner gatherings – it’s perfect for any time of the year! Believe me; I can’t think of a better way to satisfy my lunchtime craving other than this grilled Margherita Sandwich....

I immediately wanted to play along, so I made a double batch of Molly Yeh’s mandel bread with marzipan and sea salt from her new book, Molly on the Range, one topped with sprinkles, one with pearl sugar. I gathered all of my kindness-sharing supplies — kraft boxes, tissue paper, baker’s twine — and set up an assembly line to package the many delicious slices, but it soon became clear that the little ones in the house would not allow me to spread SO much kindness....

Seared Duck Breast with Port Wine Reduction — it’s a dish fit for a bistro menu. Truly, the sauce tastes as if it took hours to prepare, as if pans loaded with veal bones had to be roasted, as if those bones then had to simmer into a rich stock, and as if that stock had to reduce to a syrup. It’s the sort of sauce that elicits comments such as, “I could bathe in this....

My first Instant Pot success was a hard-boiled egg, my second was a soft-boiled. The virtues of making “boiled” eggs in an Instant Pot can be summed up as follows: 1. They peel like a dream. 2. They come out perfectly every time. Recipe is below. My Instant Pot egg successes led me to make rice, which also came out perfectly. I’m keeping this entry short because I shared my Instant Pot story and some thoughts on to buy or not to buy an Instant Pot here: Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice with Sesame, Soy, and Scallions....

“Pumpkin shmumpkin, winter squash has more flavor and better texture.” So true. I have been making this squash pie with butternut squash for the past five Thanksgivings, and it always receives rave reviews. Are you skeptical about switching up your pumpkin pie routine? Consider this: Would you agree butternut squash makes the silkiest soup and the creamiest pasta sauce? For these same reasons, it makes the most custardy “pumpkin” pie....

Subzi stands for “vegetable” and Mandi stands for “bazaar/market”. In India some people still shop for their groceries in Subzi mandi (Indian farmer’s market) but now the trend seems to be changing. People are turning towards supermarkets for their groceries as they prefers washed and clean vegetables. I really enjoyed going to Sabzi Mandi every Sunday morning with my Mom. Beside coming home with freshest selection of local fruits and vegetables, the highlight of this shopping was the way mom used to price bargain with farmers....

Every time I take a bite of David Lebovitz’s peach-frangipane galette, I feel I have been transported to a French pâtisserie. Truly: the crust is so incredibly flaky, and when it envelops layers of creamy, almond frangipane and sweet, juicy stone fruit, the result is, well, simplement magnifique! (Oui?) From rhubarb-orange to apple-bourbon to peach-vanilla, as pictured here, the possible flavor combinations are endless as are the shaping techniques: see slab galette (ideal for a crowd)....