Archive: 31 Flavors of December
Less Is More
There was no Christmas tree at my house. No tinsel, no carols, no lights. And everybody survived! I always prefer a simple version of the holidays, with minimal glitter and fuss. Christmas Eve dinner for two included a pork shoulder, black beans seasoned with cumin and oregano and sauteed plantains. For dessert, I pulled an old trick out of the pastry bag and whipped up individual molten chocolate cakes, garnished with orange segments. These little babies are deceptively easy - make the batter in advance and keep chilled in ramekins until it's time to bake in a hot oven, for only 10 minutes. The bake-to-order quality of these cakes also allows for time to digest the big meal and pace the evening as you wish. On Christmas Day, I battled two-plus hours of torrential rain on I-95 in pursuit of joining my mother and her extended clan outside Philadelphia. The...
By kimodo | December 27, 2005; 10:20 AM ET | Comments: (5)
The Chronicles of Gingerbread
It was a two-day affair, this gingerbread-building business. I've detailed the steps in a mini-diary of sorts, with pics to give you the full flavor of the experience. Thursday afternoon/evening Weather: Flurries and freezing Nancy and I took kids Ruby (10) and August (6) to pick out gum drops, red hots and jelly rings for decorating. We also picked up a box of nonpareils (remember those?) for the roof shingles. Between homework and making dinner, I showed the kids how to make the dough, a fun lesson in measurements and math and learning what ground ginger actually smells like. They were more interested in watching "The Santa Clause," with Tim Allen, than cutting the gingerbread into house shapes, so Nan and I decided to venture forward without them....
By kimodo | December 19, 2005; 09:25 AM ET | Comments: (2)
Sugar High
I want CAN-DEE! Don't we all at this time of year? There's something about the season that makes us swoon for sugar, especially when it's cooked and hardened into shapes and sizes that take us back to our kiddie days. For the past few years, I've tried my hand at making my very own confections, and I gotta say, it's a helluva good time. Call me a geek, but I get a big kick out of transforming plain ol' sugar into sweet lickable, in-your-teeth-able treats....
By kimodo | December 13, 2005; 10:15 AM ET | Comments: (9)
A World of Gingerbread
This year, I'm busting a move and building a gingerbread house, a holiday project that I've always wanted to embark upon. Such an undertaking would not be complete without a dedicated construction crew, particularly those under the age of 10. I've sussed out two eligible engineers in Chicago, where I will travel next week to join them in building our masterpiece. The Gonzalez kids - Ruby and August - will be my brain trust, with their mom, Nancy "Crafty Lady" Gonzalez, at the design helm. Stay tuned next week for pictures of the construction site and spewing batter. If you're curious about building a house of your own, there are a few books worth exploring, for recipes as well as cut-out templates:...
By kimodo | December 6, 2005; 10:46 AM ET | Comments: (6)
Knock Your Choc-Socks Off
As much as I love chocolate year 'round, I love it most at this time of year. Maybe it's that seratonin boost that I so desperately need at the height of December darkness to keep me from becoming a grinch. There's also something psychologically soothing about the stuff, akin to the protection and warmth of a blanket when the weather outside is frightful. Chocolate has a mysterious way of bringing people together, too. Remember how in the movie version of "Chocolat," Vianne (played by Juliette Binoche), with her elixir of hot chocolate, lures the townspeople out of their shuttered homes and bad marriages and opens their eyes to the simple joys of life. Of course, Vianne is like a sorceress, which scares the beejeezus out of the mayor and his wannabe girlfriend, Madame Clairmont, but there's no doubt that chocolate possesses powers of its own. It's supposed to snow tonight,...
By kimodo | December 5, 2005; 11:40 AM ET | Comments: (3)
Feature Flavor: Pomegranate
When the December darkness gets me blue, I start seeing red. Actually, it's ruby I think of -- the glorious shade of the seeds of the pomegranate, fruit of the goddesses and all who need a Mother Nature-style antidepressant. I know it's got an uninviting, tough leathery rind that is impossible to peel. Slice the pom in half instead; inside, you'll be rewarded with hundreds of translucent jewel-like, juice-filled seeds (also called tendrils), and you'll begin to understand why I sing her praises. However, if you're a neat freak, the pom may not be for you. She's got juice that stains (it was once used as ink), so place both halves in a deep bowl. With your hands, break open the halves and loosen up the seeds so that they separate from the off-white, paper-like membrane, which you don't want to eat. Recent medical research has revealed the antioxidant prowess...
By kimodo | December 2, 2005; 09:59 AM ET | Comments: (9)
Flavor Feature: Eggnog
It's Dec. 1, which means eggnog season has officially begun. But like white shoes in summer, the window of opportunity is small for this traditionally eggy drink that has been served at holiday soirees since the 19th century. A few questions inevitably come up whenever there's a punchbowl of eggnog:...
By kimodo | December 1, 2005; 12:30 PM ET | Comments: (8)
