Pantry/Freezer Vegetarian Pasta Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup frozen chopped onions 1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil 1 tablespoon jarred minced garlic 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes 1 x 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes 1 x 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained 8 ounces frozen pepper strips, or chopped peppers 1 x … Continue reading Pantry/Freezer Vegetarian Pasta Sauce

Vietnamese-Inspired Shrimp and Cabbage Salad

Recently I was invited by LaFortune Jeannette Djabea, the founder and owner of MOLA Foods, to develop some recipes for a cookbook inspired by her unique and flavorful bottled spice blends. The spice blends, cookbook, and other products are available at the MOLA website. This salad is just what I'm looking for in these post-holiday … Continue reading Vietnamese-Inspired Shrimp and Cabbage Salad

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 21: Mom’s Gingerbread

This is a perfect bake for Winter Solstice Night. This gingerbread is dark as the longest night and full of warming spices to make you think of the heat of the returning sun. It has a surprisingly light, delicate texture, even after it has completely cooled. It is very hard to only eat one piece. … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 21: Mom’s Gingerbread

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 20: Liisa’s Salmon Christmas Pie

The whole family loves this pie, which was a relief the first time I made it, because I didn't tell them what the filling was until after they had eaten it. I love this pie for its appearance, its flavor, and how easy it is to make. The potato pastry is forgiving of the most … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 20: Liisa’s Salmon Christmas Pie

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 19: Finnish Christmas Stars

These are a project, but they are worth every minute spent on them. The pastry is easy to mix and handle, forgiving of some abuse, and yet bakes up light, layered, and delicately crisp. The prune filling is fruity and pleasantly sweet, far more than the sum of its parts. I'm not sure whose idea … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 19: Finnish Christmas Stars

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 18: Christmas Cake (Joulukakku)

Here is an unassuming little cake, awaiting its star turn tomorrow, when it becomes a Finnish Christmas Cake. I learned of this Finnish traditional cake in Beatrice Ojakangas' book, The Finnish Cookbook, but the cake recipe is my own. I adapted my mom's buttermilk cake to add some Finnish flair, with lots of freshly ground … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 18: Christmas Cake (Joulukakku)

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 17: Pulla (Finnish Cardamom Coffee Bread)

This recipe's success relies heavily on the freshness of the cardamom you use, which is why I encourage you to get cardamom pods instead of ground cardamom. Ground cardamom loses its flavor very quickly, so if you have a jar of ground cardamom that has been around for a while, you want to open it … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 17: Pulla (Finnish Cardamom Coffee Bread)

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 16: Peppermint Kisses

Although these are not as pretty as I had hoped, they are absolutely delicious, crunchy at the start, then immediately chewy, but not sticky, and perfectly minty. Next time I make them, I might put the easy-to-manage meringue mixture in a piping bag with a star tip, to get a shape that's a bit more … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 16: Peppermint Kisses

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 15: Star-Topped Mince Pies

These are another easy, tasty version of a traditional holiday pie, that allows you to have just a small perfect bite, rather than an overwhelming slab on a plate. The crust is very forgiving, and the filling can be a store-bought mincemeat blend, but Ms. Lawson has provided a not-exactly traditional recipe for a filling, … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 15: Star-Topped Mince Pies

Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 14: Mom’s Caramels

I had never made my mom's caramels before. I didn't even have the recipe. They were just one of those things only my mom ever made. When I moved to the East Coast, I didn't take the recipe with me because it makes a remarkable number of caramels, more than The Husband and I could … Continue reading Baker’s Solstice Countdown: December 14: Mom’s Caramels