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Posts tagged ‘Holidays’

Holiday spice cake with orange-vanilla sugared cranberries + cake baking tips

Spice-cake-2

As if you somehow have been living under a rock and aren’t currently aware, THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING. And boy does the world want you to know it.

Should this sort of thing cause your pulse to quicken and temples to bulge, a few things to note:

  • Holiday dessert, decided. See photos above and below and tell me that wouldn’t look gorgeous as part of your holiday spread. Spiced cake, creamy cream cheese frosting, and crispy, sweet-tart sugared cranberries spiked with orange zest and vanilla. Once everyone stops oohing and aahing long enough to eat a slice, you’ll quickly be crowned the king or queen of the holidays and everyone else will lay down their spatulas in submission. (A little dramatic.)
  • Looking for a creative, unique holiday gift or gathering? Remember that Bowen Appétit offers private parties and gift certificatesRead more

Winter cocktail: Caramelized eggnog with dark rum

I’m back! I know it was just a few days ago that I was saying goodbye until after the holidays, feeling like I couldn’t see the light at the Tunnel of Kitchen Despair, but the clouds have parted and HERE I AM. Look at all that fuss I made! (Oh god, please let the Tunnel be behind me.)

And I didn’t want to wait for this any longer, because (for some reason that always escapes me) the nog window is open for only so much longer, and I don’t want it to pass you by.

EggNog_2 Read more

What you need to know about wild rice (and an easy pilaf to get you started)

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I’ve been feeling a little remiss in my duties as a Minnesotan lately, considering how little I’ve talked about wild rice over the years I’ve had this site. We don’t eat it as often as we should, and that’s probably where the guilt actually lies, but I’m determined to remedy the situation and so here I am.

I know I’ve mentioned wild rice here and again, but let’s back up and get a good handle on the whole business. Wild rice (which is not actually a rice, but we’ll get to that) looks like very long long-grain rice covered by a thin brownish-blackish skin. When properly cooked, that skin breaks open and most of the grains begin to curl in on themselves, which many recipes refer to as “blossoming.” The grains still have their bran intact, which gives it a toothsome, chewy texture similar to brown rice and other whole grains. It has a toasty, nutty, earthy flavor, and can often smell and taste slightly like black tea. The flavor and texture it adds over other rices and grains is worth the extra effort required in cooking it, and it’s interesting to add to soups, breads, salads, and other dishes in a way that other grains seem to act more as mere filler or heft.

WildRice_Kale

That said, I’m from Minnesota. I get it. I’ve eaten wild rice my whole life, and in a million different ways. I’ve always known the difference between real wild rice and the other stuff, just like someone from the Northwest knows about wild salmon and someone from New Mexico knows about real green chile. Wild rice isn’t nearly as pervasive of a thing as those other two, so don’t feel bad if you have no idea where I’m going with this – just know that there’s a difference. Read more

Gift guide part II, Food List catch-up

Housekeeping day! (Literally, in regards to my house, and figuratively, in regards to this blog.)  I hear Sundays were made for rest, but I almost always end up using them to tie up loose ends from the week before, to prepare for the week ahead, and to make progress on the projects that otherwise never get much attention (hey there, homemade Christmas gifts that are supposed to be made sometime in the next three weeks …).

Work

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Bowen Appetit 2011 holiday gift guide (for people who like things I like)

Here are some things things I hate:

  1. Driving in traffic
  2. Parking lots
  3. Waiting in lines
  4. Shopping when I know exactly what I’m looking for but can’t find it
  5. Shopping when I have no idea what I’m looking for and can’t find it
  6. Shopping when stressed
  7. Shopping around other stressed out people

Holiday shopping season, how much I hate thee.

Don’t get me wrong – I love gift-giving (and -getting, let’s be real).  I love when I figure out the perfect gift for someone. I love making gifts. I love putting together a set of gifts. I love wrapping gifts. I love when I get it right.  But my god do I hate shopping and searching for gifts during the holidays.

To that end, I thought I might help you out a little. Let’s say you or someone you love likes to spend some time in the kitchen, or would like some help spending more time there.  Let’s also say it’s mid- to late-November, and time to get some serious gift purchasing accomplished, because time only goes forward and Christmas will be here before you know it and if you like to spend your time trying to find parking in decent shopping areas once mid-December hits then you just go right ahead but I will NOT be there with you.  Read more