On hot chocolate: "It flatters you for a while, it warms you for an instant; then all of a sudden, it kindles a mortal fever in you."
-Marie, Marquise de Sévigné, 17th century
Seasoned greetings! Welcome to the December issue of Seasoned Cooking. Here we find ourselves in the middle of the holiday season with so much to do and trying to keep a cheerful spirit. We’re here to help! Our Christmas present to you is an issue filled with great holiday ideas and tips to keep things low stress.
We begin with a look at Christmas Dinner. If it seems overwhelming, boil it down to its fundamentals with a good, step-by-step guide to planning a great meal. If you want to step outside the traditional meal plans, we’re here for you too. Take a look at a Russian meal of Beef Stroganoff at Phil’s International Flair or a fast Italian dinner at the Rush Hour column.
Of course, most people think of the sweets of the season too. And we’re sharing them as well. We have the cookie monster in your covered with a special article on making a wide variety of cookies based on one master cookie recipe. What a wonderful way to save time and effort! The Ingredient SpotLight column is focusing on graham crackers and noting that they are useful for more than s’mores! Get everything from a cheesecake recipe to a creative crisp. And we’re also looking at special beverages this month. End your holiday meals with one of two special drinks we’re offering. Traditional egg nog is covered in the Through the Kitchen Window column, while a special peppermint hot cocoa is highlighted in the Happy Endings column. They are both fantastic and I recommend using both in your holiday entertaining.
There's a lot more to enjoy in this month's issue of Seasoned Cooking -- from Fruitcake Muffins to questions about your favorite holiday decorations. Enjoy and here's to a seasoned lifestyle.
