Hot Cross Buns are an Easter tradition dating back to before Queen Elizabeth I. In addition to their Christian symbol of the cross, they have strong folklore traditions as well: Sailors would bring cross buns with them on sea voyages to guard against shipwrecks. Hanging a cross bun in the kitchen guaranteed that bread made there would always rise. And, sharing a cross bun with someone meant you were best friends forever. Continue the tradition for yourself by using prepared frozen bread dough from the store. Or, if you have a favorite made-from-scratch buttery yeast dough, this is the …

I had the pleasure several years ago of attending a Passover Seder. The friend who invited me is from a Sephardic family originally from Syria. Because Sephardic Jews are from countries surrounding the Mediterranean, their food traditions differ from Jews in Eastern Europe.  Still following the dietary laws for Passover, the Sephardic Passover meals tend to be highly aromatic, with liberal use of spices, herbs and vegetables such as eggplant, artichokes and even asparagus. Interestingly, the Syrian Jews include rice in their Passover meals. In order to have dishes that meet their guests’ …

This warm comfort food will drive away the cold! It is infinitely flexible with whatever you have on hand, so no grocery store run is necessary. There are no noodles to boil and you’re using already-prepared ingredients, so it all comes together in a flash.This recipe came into being out of sheer laziness. Last night, I’d planned on making a tamale pie with my leftover chili con carne, but saw that I’d run out of cornmeal for the crust. With the snow coming down, I was less than motivated to run to the store. Instead, I pulled out a few things from the fridge and pantry and threw this …

What to do with that wonderful bubbly leftover from your celebrations? You hate to throw it out, but you just can't face another Champagne cocktail. Even if your Champagne has lost some of its fizz, you can use it in many ways, for recipes both sweet and savory. You won't taste the alcohol, but the Champagne flavor will really enhance the other flavors.  Here are some ideas for you: 1. If you happen to have one of those little ice cream makers, pull that baby out and put it in your freezer. Then you can make sorbet with your leftover sweet Champagne and serve with fresh berries. I'm not …

These cookies start with a cake mix! You can make several varieties from just one batch of dough. If you’re full up with sugar cookies, use a fudgy chocolate cake mix. They were a big hit with my family and they’re fun to make with kids.“Cake and Bake” base ingredients:1 cake mix flavor of your choice, preferably Betty Crocker™ Super Moist¼ cup each Crisco™ and butter, softened2 tablespoon vegetable oil2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanillaWith an electric mixer to beat together the Crisco™, butter, and vegetable oil. Itmay seem odd to use three different types of fat in one recipe, but go ahead …

Does your heart sink when you’re asked to bring an appetizer or dessert to a party? You want to do something more remarkable than onion soup dip, but you don’t want to fuss. Try this smoked salmon spread – you can whip this up in about five minutes.As for the dessert, you want something impressive and festive. My glazed spiked eggnog bundt cake is decadent and takes only about 15 minutes of attention. These two recipes will make you the toast of the party!Smoked Salmon Spread4 oz. cream cheese (low fat is fine)¼ cup sour cream1 Tbsp. horseradish mustard1/8 tsp. garlic powder4 oz. smoked …

These quiches are little but mighty! They pack a nice protein punch to get you through your morning. Because they are baked in muffin tins, each can be individualized to your family’s taste. They taste delicious hot or at room temperature, which means they can easily be eaten on the go.You can make up the batter the night before, refrigerate, and bake in the morning.Go-Go Quiche10 Ritz crackers3 large eggs2 Tbsp. mild olive oil2 Tbsp. self rising flourDash salt and pepper½ cup cottage cheese (low-fat is fine)¼ cup sour cream (low-fat is fine)1 cup shredded cheese of your choice, not low-…

This is a somewhat unusual marinade, but one I think you’ll love. It’s quick to put together in the morning. Let it marinate all day and bake when you get home.8 oz. hard cider, such as Woodchuck (or regular cider)¼ cup apple butter1 Tbsp. garlic olive oil2 tsp. high-quality prepared mustard1 T excellent quality balsamic vinegar½ tsp salt¼ tsp black pepper1.5 pounds chicken thighs (with skin, bone-in)In a recipe with just a few ingredients such as this, you want to use the absolute best available for optimal flavor. But if you don’t happen to have balsamic vinegar or high-end mustard hanging …

Everyone seems to be talking about cake pops. These are balls of cake crumbs and frosting, stuck on a stick like a lollipop or popsicle, dipped in melted chocolate or candy melts, and then decorated.Yep, they are without a doubt a sugar bomb. But since our candy-free householdbreaks the rules at Halloween anyway, we decided to give them a whirl this year.Cake pops are a great project to let your kids get creative. Younger kids can justadd sprinkles; older ones can release their inner cake decorator. It’s messy but a lot of fun.Ingredients:1 13 x 9 inch baked cake – your favorite flavor1 can …

This is the time of year when candy and sweets are everywhere; it’s almost impossible to focus on healthy eating.One of the easiest ways to sneak fruit and fiber into your family is in baked goods. This pumpkin bread really fits the bill – it’s very tender, somewhat sweet, and has beautiful color.Festive Pumpkin Bread1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree4 large eggs1 cup vegetable oil2/3 cup apple cider (not hard!)2 ¾ cups white sugar3 ½ cups all-purpose flour2 tsp baking soda1 ½ tsp salt2 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground nutmeg1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)1/3 cup dates, dried …

Oktoberfest is here! There are so many wonderful beers to try and many of themare an excellent addition to recipes. The right beer can add a lot of flavor to a dish and helps tenderize meat. The alcohol cooks away, leaving great taste.Try this slow cooker pork roast. It has very few ingredients and can be put together fast on a work day morning.Lots of recipes want you to brown your meat before putting it in the slow cooker. I say forget it – browning the meat doesn’t offer enough additional flavor to make it worth your time. It’s important to use good quality spices though. The fewer the …

On cold rainy days, this soup is a real favorite at my house and it comes together very quickly. If you have time you can certainly make your own meatballs. To make it fast, use some of the better quality frozen varieties to get this soup on the table in about half an hour.3 carrots, scrubbed2 stalks celery1 small oniona few sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional but nice)1/8 tsp black pepper¼ tsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)½ Tbsp olive oil8 cups chicken stock or8 cups water and 2½ Tbsp Better than Bouillon™ chicken base½ package (13 oz) Mama Lucia’s™ Italian-style meatballs (cocktail¾ …

This dish is so good! You’ll love the apple-onion sauce that cooks while you’re preparing the chicken. You use two skillets, but it’s worth it! Use bright red, tart, firm apples, such as Gala. Buy organic to avoid the pesticides and the wax coating they apply to the skin. No need to peel the apples, either; the red skin turns a pretty pink when being simmered. Use real apple cider, not filtered apple juice. Since the entire apple is pressed when making cider, you’ll be better off buying organic here as well. Mom’s Organic Market in Rockville and Frederick have great organic produce, or ask at…

If you want a quick pick-me-up for yourself or for several hungry kids, these microwave mug cakes hit the spot. Each cake can be individualized to taste. Best of all, kids can make them on their own, and there’s very little to clean up after. Almost instant gratification: Cake in a MugButter Pecan Mug Cake3 tablespoons half-and-half3 tablespoons vegetable oil1 medium or large egg (not extra large or jumbo!)4 tablespoons brown sugar, lightly packed2 tablespoons instant butterscotch pudding powder¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice¼ cup self-rising flour1 tablespoon chopped pecans, chocolate mini-…

The Wine Harvest wants to give customers more than an experience of just great wine. It's goal is to give customers a great wine experience at great prices with the ambiance of a European café. “Our concept is to offer a better bottle of wine for a much lower cost than what you would find in a restaurant,” said Stan Cohen, general manager at the Kentlands location. Customers can order a bottle of wine at a competitive retail price, and for a small corkage fee, enjoy it on the premises. Recent changes in Maryland law now allow customers to take home opened bottles of wine. “This has been a big…

This tart requires a little bit of pre-planning but is very flexible; make the dough ahead of time and fill it with your favorite vegetables. At this time of year I usually choose Roma tomatoes and/or zucchini.  You can make this tart dough from scratch or use prepared frozen puff pastry. Both are equally delicious and impressive – and easy! Savory Summer Veggie Tart For homemade pastry: 1¼ cup all purpose flour, very cold ¼ tsp salt 1 stick frozen unsalted butter (no substitutes), cut in 8 even pieces ¼ cup full fat sour cream 1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar ¼ cup ice water OR 1 sheet …

Basil is so generous that if you have even one basil plant in your garden or in a sunny window you already know that it’s difficult to use it all before it flowers. To keep your basil growing leaves until frost, be diligent about snipping off the blossoms. If you’re lucky enough to have several basil plants, transplant one into a large pot and allow it to blossom and then go to seed. The basil blossoms will make a lot of beneficial insects happy and the seeds will grow next spring -- you’ll have an entire new crop of basil. I leave that pot and the dead plant in it out all winter and have …

If you like good French toast with fruit, you’ll love this bread pudding! You can use any stale or fresh bread, although it tastes best with a nice eggy bread like challah, brioche, or Sally Lunn. This bread pudding isn’t as cloyingly sweet as some. Very ripe, fresh peaches from the farmers’ market mean you don’t need much sugar to bring out the flavor. Ask at your farmers’ market for peach seconds. They don’t look as pretty, because they have a few bruises, so they cost much less. Can’t figure out why; I’d pay way more for them as they taste so much better than the picture-perfect ones that …

If you’ve been reading this column for awhile you’ve probably gathered that I prefer flexible recipes with lots of flavor and a minimum of preparation and fuss. This chicken recipe is definitely one of those. You can prepare the short list of ingredients and either use immediately or freeze it all uncooked in a zip bag for another day. You can bake it in the oven or use a slow cooker. 2 pounds chicken thighs, bone-in 1 cup peanut butter OR cashew butter, smooth or crunchy ½ cup orange juice concentrate ¼ cup soy sauce (Tamari or other high quality) 2 tsp. crushed garlic ½ tsp. hot sauce 4 …

We’re certainly paying for the moderate temperatures we enjoyed last week. Here are a few more ideas to keep your kitchen – and you – cool as a cucumber. Speaking of cucumbers, this refreshing salad is great served with chicken satay – or anything from the grill.  Sizzling Cold Cucumber Salad 1 pound cucumbers, seeded 1 small onion, any color, peeled and thinly sliced 2 tsp. Kosher salt OR 1 tsp. table salt 2 tsp. real soy sauce 2 tsp. white sugar 2 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar 1 Tbsp.  toasted sesame oil ¼ tsp. hot pepper flakes 2 Tbsp. sesame seeds Halve your cucumbers lengthwise and remove …