This famous British spice blend has been enjoyed in Christmas baking for several centuries. With both sweet and savory applications, you will love this deliciously versatile Mixed Spice blend!The term "mixed spice" for this popular British spice blend has been … Continue reading →
AMAZING 24-Hour Slow Cooker Apple Butter
An incredibly rich and old-fashioned flavored apple butter that makes itself while you are sleeping. The long, slow cooking process renders a wonderfully deep flavor with notes of caramelized apple. It's absolutely delicious! And if you want to store it long term, this … Continue reading →
BEST German Curry Ketchup for Currywurst
There's a reason over 800 million Currywursts are consumed each year in Germany - they're deeeelicious and have been a German institution since 1949! Learn how to make the BEST authentic curry ketchup and traditional German Currywurst!In the words of Berlin's … Continue reading →
Plum Jam
This plum jam is delicious added to cakes, in muffins, on pancakes, ice cream and any other way your heart desires! You can make it either with or without pectin.With four Italian plum trees in our yard I get busy the end of every Summer processing hundreds of … Continue reading →
BEST Authentic Enchilada Sauce
Rich and robust and a thousand times better than store-bought, this authentic enchilada sauce packs some serious FLAVOR! Not just for enchiladas, this sauce will take your soups and stews to a whole new level!Nothing beats homemade.That's a phrase that fits most … Continue reading →
Creamy French Dressing
This Creamy French Dressing whips up in just 5 minutes and is SO good! It will take your salads to a new level!Homemade dressings are the best! Not only because they taste better, but because they don't have all the junk ingredients that you find in most … Continue reading →
Wild Huckleberry Jam
It's huckleberry season!We enjoyed red huckleberries a few weeks ago and now the black huckleberries are ripening. Huckleberries are found in the wild throughout North America. Europe has very similar berries that go by a variety of names such as bilberries, … Continue reading →
BEST Homemade Italian Dressing
Get ready to whip up the best homemade Italian dressing in just 5 minutes!Nothing beats the taste of good homemade Italian dressing!And superior taste aside, making your own has additional benefits. Virtually ALL store-bought Italian dressings are made with … Continue reading →
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
This classic strawberry rhubarb jam is sure to win you over with its wonderful burst of fresh, fruity flavor!Growing up I always looked forward to rhubarb season. One of my favorite desserts that my mom made was rhubarb crumble. Sweet and juicy rhubarb topped with … Continue reading →
Neiman Marcus Dip (Almond Bacon Cheese Spread)
This dip also goes by the name “Million Dollar Dip” because that’s how many people feel about it. And we couldn’t agree more!I was craving a savory, cheesy snack the other day. I opened the fridge and noticed some bacon along with a block of cheddar and a wedge of … Continue reading →
Shichimi Togarashi and Nanami Togarashi (Japanese 7 Spice Blend)
This popular Japanese spice blend dates back to at least the 17th century and has been used since as a favorite way to add flavor and heat to everything from noodles and rice dishes to grilled meats like yakitori as well as soups and tempuras. What Is Shichimi … Continue reading →
Authentic Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Clarified Butter)
If you love Ethiopian food and just can't quite figure out how to replicate that flavor at home, you may be missing the ultimate secret ingredient: Niter Kibbeh!Niter Kibbeh (Nit'ir Qibe) is an ingredient integral to Ethiopian cuisine and is made by clarifying … Continue reading →
BEST Homemade Kecap Manis (Indonesian Sweet Soy Sauce)
There's a reason kecap manis is the most popular condiment in Indonesia: It's not only delicious, it's so incredibly versatile you'll find yourself wanting to add it to nearly everything!A meal in Indonesia is virtually incomplete without ketcap manis, the most … Continue reading →
Cheesy Dijon Chicken Rolls with Balsamic Glaze
Here is something healthy, wholesome and delicious that combines your serving of meat, vegetables and dairy all in one!A variety of flavorful vegetables are sauteed and tucked inside thinly sliced chicken filets that have been slathered with Dijon mustard and seasoned … Continue reading →
French Pork Rillettes (Rillettes de Porc)
I'm always amused by dishes now considered gourmet and upscale that were in years past ridiculed as peasant food. Foods like lobster, oysters, foie gras, and famous dishes like coq au vin and boeuf bourgignon used to be the food of the poor - now they're only served in the … Continue reading →
Homemade Elderberry Syrup (for colds, coughs and flu)
The elder tree (sambucus nigra) has been prized as a "medicine chest" for centuries because of its versatile applications. Black elderberries (sambuci fructus), the fruit of the elder tree, have been used both to prevent and treat the flu, common colds, coughs, sinus pain, … Continue reading →
Authentic Traditional Mincemeat
Few people today know the taste of true, authentic mincemeat, a dish dating back to the 11th century. And that explains why very few people I know actually truly enjoy mincemeat versus simply eating it out of tradition (or being forced to so as not to offend Grandma!). … Continue reading →
Toasted Hazelnut & Date Spread
I've partnered with New Seasons Market to bring you this post.Any time we're invited to someone's house for dinner or something casual like a game night with snacks, I always like to bring along a little something as a thank you. Depending on how much time I have it can … Continue reading →
BEST Brown Mushroom Gravy (from scratch)
If you're looking for a delicious brown mushroom gravy, look no further!Absolutely nothing beats homemade when it comes to gravy and there is no reason whatsoever to resort to the packaged stuff because one, homemade is easy enough to make; two, the packaged stuff is … Continue reading →
BEST Authentic Chinese Plum Sauce (Duck Sauce)
It is believed that the Chinese were the first to cultivate plums and plums have an important place in traditional Chinese culture. Even Confucius paid tribute to them in a poem wherein he likens their beauty to a loved one:"The branches of the aspen plum To and fro … Continue reading →
Best Marinara Sauce for Canning
It's hard to beat a simple dish of fresh pasta topped with homemade marinara sauce. The key is using quality products and when you have those these simplest of dishes come to life.The Italians have relied on the best of the best tomatoes for centuries: Sun-kissed San … Continue reading →
Peach Bacon Jam
Is that making you drool? Because it's making me drool. And I've already had it several times. So I can fully vouch for the following:Chomping down on some crispy-chewy bread spread thickly with this Peach Bacon Jam is pure heaven!I've been wanting to make some … Continue reading →
Honey Peach Cardamom Sauce
Peaches are in season here in Washington State and I picked up a bulk load of 75 pounds of them last week! I've been busy chopping and freezing them for smoothies, canning them, making fruit leather, peach cobbler and peach crisp, and thought I'd try something new - this … Continue reading →
Homemade Blackberry Syrup
This year saw the best crop of blackberries we've seen yet with the largest, juiciest, sweetest blackberries I've ever tasted. I think it must somehow be connected with the all-time, record-breaking long, cold, wet Spring we had this year. It was miserable to live in, but … Continue reading →
BEST Homemade Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce, from the French sauce tartare, has become such a staple condiment, it's hard to imagine enjoying fried foods - fried seafood in particular - without it!It's super easy to throw together but for a truly great tartar sauce we need to achieve that perfect … Continue reading →
Best Homemade Giardiniera (Hot or Mild)
Giardiniera, pronounced "jar-din-air-ah", is one condiment you don't want to be without. And once you've tried it you'll understand why.Originating in Italy, these pickled vegetables were introduced to Chicago in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants and took … Continue reading →
Blue Cheese Butter
When I was a kid I hated blue cheese. Nothing could convince me to eat it. And whenever my mom made something with blue cheese in it, I resisted it with all my stubborn might.But this story has a good ending. Once I hit adulthood I finally came to my senses and fell … Continue reading →
Classic Homemade Caramel Sauce
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post! Is there anything more swoon-worthy than a waffle cone dripping with ice cream or a loaded ice cream sundae? I can totally relate to one of my favorite actresses, Ginger Rogers, when she said: "My love for ice cream … Continue reading →
Cherry Barbecue Sauce
A deliciously flavorful and fruity barbecue sauce you can enjoy on your grilled meats, chicken, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and used in any recipe that calls for barbecue sauce!What would you do with 75 pounds of cherries?That's what I picked up this past … Continue reading →
BEST Sweet and Sour Sauce
There are so many ways to enjoy this popular and versatile sauce. And with only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep/cook time, this delicious Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe couldn't be simpler!Get ready for a fast, simple, and deeeelicious Sweet & Sour … Continue reading →
Lemon Dill Mustard Dressing
Dill has always been one of my favorite herbs. I've had success in growing nearly all of my culinary herbs from seed and planting them in my herb garden, but dill has been a challenge. I've been trying to grow it for the past three years and just haven't had much luck. I … Continue reading →
Healthy Food Swaps + 10 Healthy Salad Dressings
Since the start of the new year I've been focusing on cutting back on calories in an effort to shed the final few pounds I put on during the holidays. Rather than go on an extreme diet, I've just been taking small, simple steps on a daily basis, swapping out high calorie … Continue reading →
How To Make Candied Orange and Lemon Peel
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post!January celebrates the ushering in of citrus season! I always get excited to see the fresh crops pour into the produce section of my local grocery stores and roadside fruit stands. I LOVE practically anything … Continue reading →
Cherry Dessert Sauce
Here is a quick, easy and delicious cherry dessert sauce for pouring over everything from pound cake to waffles, shortcake, pudding and ice cream! If you're into canning, this sauce is a great way to put the fruits of your labor to use (see my post on how to can cherries). … Continue reading →
Classic English Custard (Crème Anglaise)
Custard serves two basic culinary purposes: Either as a thick pastry cream (crème pâtissière) or a thin dessert sauce for pouring (crème anglaise, French for "English cream" because of its popularity in English desserts). The difference between the two is its thickness and … Continue reading →
BEST Classic Cranberry Sauce
The holidays simple aren't complete without cranberry sauce - every dining table needs a bowl of it. Right?If you're like me I know what you're thinking: "Eww, cranberry sauce. That jelly-like gelatinous stuff that makes an unpleasant suction sound as it oozes its way … Continue reading →
Cranberry Ginger Mustard Sauce
Cranberry sauce. Whether you love it or hate it, Thanksgiving and Christmas simply aren't the same without it.As a kid and teenager I used to avoid the stuff. You know, that thick gelatinous stuff that retains the shape of the can after it's unceremoniously dumped onto … Continue reading →
Traditional Bavarian Sweet Mustard (Bayerischer Süßer Senf)
My mom is from Bavaria from a small town south of Munich on the Austrian border, and though I grew up in Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart, I equally consider Bavaria my home. I could spend multiple posts praising the beauty of this stunning region of southern Germany, but … Continue reading →
Kitchen Basics: How To Roast Red Peppers
Jarred roasted red peppers are one of those things I often don't have on hand when I need them. Can you relate? It's the same story with several other things, which is why I developed the very best recipes for items like tahini paste, marzipan/almond paste, teriyaki sauce, … Continue reading →
Plum Butter (Pflaumenmus)
Plum Butter brings back memories of the time I spent with my Oma and Opa growing up in southern Germany. There it's called Pflaumenmus and you can readily find it in any grocery store next to the jams and marmalades. My Oma used to make Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) … Continue reading →
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