The recipe for these yummy crescent-shaped holiday treats comes straight from my husband’s German mom. They have been a Christmas staple in his family for generations, and are typically referred to as “Vanille Hörnchen” or “Vanille Kipferl.” I absolutely love them—they are simple to prepare and yield a bold vanilla and butter flavor with a perfectly crunchy texture. It’s probably my favorite cookie recipe this time of year, and the crescents bring back memories of holidays spent in Germany. (For more German holiday cookies, take a look at my Gingerbread and Hazelnut cookie recipes.)
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Baby Potatoes with Herbed Butter
With all the craziness that surrounds the holiday season, make it easier on yourself by preparing stress-free dishes. I always have potatoes in my kitchen and wanted to cook something easy and minimal, so I decided to boil some and drizzle with herbed butter.
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Apple Bourbon Cocktail with Ginger Syrup
I haven’t posted a cocktail recipe since the summer. But lately, I’ve been making more cocktails, especially seasonally inspired ones. Our latest favorite has been this delicious apple Bourbon concoction. We adapted the recipe for this fall drink from our friends at Julibox, who launched a brilliant online business selling monthly cocktail ingredient kits, similar to our side business GrubKit. This drink is perfect during your Thanksgiving festivities. Enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!
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Kale Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts and Parmesan
For a quick weeknight dish, I came up with this incredibly simple and healthy salad. Raw kale is the perfect green during the fall and winter months because of it’s hearty texture. I added some lightly toasted pine nuts for a bit more crunch and topped it with a few pieces of shaved Parmesan. For the perfect meal, serve it next to a delicious roast chicken.
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Baked Cannellini Beans with Potatoes and Carrots
Hurricane Sandy has been a devastating storm affecting the lives of millions of people. Luckily we were spared from the worst effects here in Park Slope, Brooklyn. We did, however, hunker down in our apartment for a few days and had to rely on whatever food we had stocked up. One of those essentials I recommend everyone to have in their pantry is canned beans. I love cooking with beans and ended up making a nutritious vegetarian one-pot dish along with a few other vegetables. I had potatoes and carrots on hand, but you can use vegetables like brussels sprouts, broccoli, parsnips or onions.
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Creamy Pea Soup
When I saw Nigella Lawson make her incredibly easy pea and mozzarella soup on her cooking show the other day, I just had to try it. Because of the addition of mozzarella she calls it ‘Slime Soup’, but it also adds a nice creamy flavor which compliments the delicate sweet peas. I love the vibrant light green color this soup exudes, making it a great addition to any Halloween party. Check out my soups & stews section for more easy and delicious recipes.
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German Gingerbread Cookies (Lebkuchen)
For the final recipe of our holiday cookie kit, I’ve prepared a traditional German Christmas gingerbread cookie, or Lebkuchen. Created by medieval monks, lebkuchen dates back to the 13th century in Germany and Switzerland. My version is made of ginger, molasses, almond extract and a good amount of spices like cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. These cookies are soft on the inside and slightly crunchy on the outside, the perfect compliment to include in our holiday cookie kit.
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