Every now and again I encounter something truly unbelievable. We are suffering from a shortage of heavy cream. The stores ran out before Christmas, and as they usually get trucks on Mondays and Thursdays, there was still no heavy cream yesterday. That itself is kind of unbelievable, but what’s truly beyond belief is that I’ve
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A fairly long and fun excerpt from Chapter XXI, “The Big Day,” in Miss Missy’s School: A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School is here. You’ll never guess what the Big Day is!
We have entered cooking and baking mode here at The Farm! This is a very distinctive Christmas bread. Lovely texture and crumb. Taste is a bit more mellow (?) than some vánočkas, but delicious. It will make a perfect leftover ham sandwich. Cooking mode began with a baked ham in a cooking bag yesterday, plus
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With its lavish orange notes, this sophisticated coffee drink … is a classic treat in Viennese coffee houses. —Saveur 153 (Jan./Feb., 2013) CAFÉ MARIA THERESIA Serves 1 Boiling water (for warming coffee cup)3 Tbsp orange liqueur1 Tbsp sugar8 oz brewed coffeeWhipped cream, for servingGrated orange zest, for garnish Fill a coffee cup with boiling water,
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From Brennan’s Restaurant, The New Orleans Restaurant Cookbook by Deirdre Stanforth (1967) BRENNAN’S CAFÉ BRÛLOT Serves 10-12 1-inch cinnamon stick12 whole clovesPeel of 2 oranges, cut into thin sliversPeel of 2 lemons, cut into thin slivers6 lumps sugar8 oz (1 C) brandy2 oz (¼ C) curacao1 quart strong black coffee In a brûlot bowl or
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No fire extinguisher needed nearby for this one! BRANDIED CAPPUCCINO HOT CHOCLATE Serves 4 6 cinnamon sticks3 C half and half OR milk5 tsp instant espresso powder8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped3 Tbsp brandy (or more, to taste)Whipped cream Break 2 cinnamon sticks in half and place in saucepan. Add half and half and espresso powder,
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Another devilish brandy and coffee drink. Here’s the recipe for Antoine’s Café Brulot Diabolique. From Boston Oyster House, Chicago, Illinois, Adventures in Good Cooking (Famous Recipes) and the Art of Carving in the Home: A Duncan Hines Book (1939) BOSTON OYSTER HOUSE’S CAFÉ DIABLO Serves 6 6 demi-tasses coffee6 whole cloves½ stick cinnamon2 bay leaves1
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Antoine’s … Oldest restaurant in the United States, this world famous mecca for the epicure was established in 1840 by Antoine Alciatore … In the heart of New Orleans’ famous and ancient French section, it now is owned by Roy Alciatore, grandson of the founder. It has entertained kings, presidents, the great, and the near
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We’re making our way through the Christmas movie list. Last evening was White Christmas. I think it’s during the scene where they are singing in the dining car of the train on their way to Vermont that one of the characters mentions hot buttered rum. Pause the movie. Search The Big Food Manual. What a
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Two of my favorite fillings are prune, and cheese. But they’re all really good. Originally published on January 2, 2016 and well worth a rerun! From West, Texas MRS. NEMECEK’S KOLACHES AND FILLINGSMakes about 3 ½ dozen DOUGH 2 envelopes active dry yeast ¼ C lukewarm water1 Tbsp sugar, plus ½ C2 C milk1 stick butter
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Getting to be that time of year when you don’t mind spending a little extra time being creative. And so, from Mr. Big Food’s Big Food Manual and Survivalist Flourishing Guide, I present to you… HOW TO MAKE THREE- AND FIVE-STRAND BRAIDS AND OTHER FANCY BREAD SHAPES from The Creative Cooking Course (1982). We will
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Since it’s so balmy out there, Mr. Big Food, Missy, Rocky, and I went to give Jack and The Dummy a few Christmas carrots. Good thing they have their winter coats on.
of a White Christmas… As far as I’m concerned, white Christmases can stay in Vermont, but I want you to have that tune in your head as I tell the story of little Israel Baline, and the man he came to be. Israel was born in Temun, Russia in 1888. His family was Jewish and
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White chocolate and Creme de Cocoa variation. I made one cup and we split it. It’s rich. HOT CHOCOLATE TO DIE FOR AND VARIATION For each cup, in a double boiler combine: 2 to 3 ounces milk chocolate 1 teaspoon butter ½ teaspoon vanilla Stir together until completely melted and smooth. Then
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SWEDISH GLOGG “Serve in heated mugs or small glasses with a few almonds and seedless raisins in each.”—The New York Times Cook Book by Craig Claiborne (1961) About 20 punch cup servings ¾ C water, plus more3 cardamom seeds8 whole cloves2 Tbsp grated orange peel¼ C blanched almonds½ C seedless raisins1 C prunes1 bottle (24
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Games grew up around the Yuletide bowl. For centuries Snapdragon has been played on Christmas Eve in every English shire. Remember the party at Dingley Bell and the great game of Snapdragon where fingers were burned aplenty? A handful or raisins are placed in a shallow dish, brandy is poured over, then ignited. The trick
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Final group of Frigid Week Hot Drink Recipes is gluggs, syllabubs, wassails, and assorted punches. By the time you see this, the weather will probably have been driven you to drink. Most are alcoholic, though some–like this one–are not, or you could omit / substitute. Get the punch bowl out! Clementine is in Virginia… Here
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From The Deplorable Cookbook by The Horde (2017) Chef’s Note: “A merry Christmas, Bob,” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken. “I’ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!” SMOKING BISHOP Yield:
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MRS. MABEL GREGG HUNT’S SYLLABUB First Lady Bicentennial Cookbook (1975) Serves 12 1 quart cream½ pint sweet wine½ pint MadeiraJuice of 2 lemonsA little finely powdered spice and sugar to taste, “peel of lemon must be steeped in the wine until the flavor is extracted” Whisk together all ingredients, and as the froth rises “take
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Mr. Big Food’s aunt reports that the wind chill is 9˚ where they are in Texas. She emailed to request some Gluhwein (mulled wine) recipes. Happy to oblige. (I knew people would be driven to drink! More hot alcoholic hot drinks with alcohol coming up tomorrow. Unless you want them sooner. Let me know in
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