Snack
Thyme Focaccia and Parmesan Focaccia
This recipe is used to prepare Grilled Tuna and Roasted Peppers Sandwiches on Thyme Focaccia and Presciutto, Mozzarella, and Olive Sandwiches on Parmesan Focaccia .
If you need only one focaccia, freeze the other for later use. Focaccia keeps, frozen, 2 weeks.
Pecan Squares
"On our way to and from the Washington coast, we often stop at a small restaurant in Montesano called Savory Faire," says Thelma Laird of Fox Island, Washington. "They serve outstanding cinnamon rolls and imaginative sandwiches, but the recipe I'd most like to have is the one for pecan squares."
Pecan Fingers (Puckle Warts)
"When I was growing up, my mother would bake at least 20 different kinds of cookies each Christmas, but this is one of our favorites," writes Helen McKnight of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. "My father gave the cookie its name, which he said meant 'pecan fingers' in some foreign language. The name stuck, and I still smile when I make them."
Hanukkah Doughnuts
Israelis celebrate Hanukkah not with latkes, but with doughnuts called sufganiyot. Here's an easy version, similar to doughnut holes.
Buttermilk Bran Muffins
These bran muffins bake up moist and chewy. They're so good that my in-laws, Reed and Nancy, make a batch every couple of days for snacking. This is another recipe that shows how buttermilk works to tenderize and lighten many baked goods. Bran retains much of its natural oil and can quickly turn rancid, so always store it in the refrigerator or freezer. I like to use unprocessed sugar crystals (don't confuse this with brown sugar) to complement the bran's whole grain taste. Each muffin has over 2 grams of fiber.
Candied Orange Zest
You can sometimes find candied orange peel in stores, but it is typically thicker, chewier, and more moist than candied zest. It will also never have the intense citrusy flavor of candied zest you make yourself.
Ginger Scones
Candied ginger turns this traditional cream scone into a spicy and addictive breakfast. After all these years, it's still our bestselling scone at the bakery.
Cherry Clafouti
This is the best clafouti I have ever tasted, for it is short on flour, long on custard, and the butter gives it an added depth of flavor. Remove the pits if you like. If you leave the pits in the cherries, be sure to warn your guests so they don't crack their teeth!
Cherry and Almond Clafoutis
This traditional French dessert combines all the best qualities of custard, pudding, and cake.
Cheese Canapes
This recipe was created to accompany other canapés: Shrimp Canapés, Pickled Herring Canapés and Smoked Mackerel Canapés.
Cherries in the Snow
This is a poetic version of the traditional Chinese almond milk gelatin dessert. Whipping the milk gives the top layer of this dessert the appearance of snow. Fat-free (skim) milk will create the most foam.
Marinated Green Olives with Oregano
The sweetness of the pomegranate molasses is great with the salty olives. (If you can't find the molasses, the olives are also good without it.) Dip warm pita wedges into the sauce.