Cooking Around the Calendar

The holiday season is here! You still have time to make a few treats before the New Year and these gingerbread cookies have always been a holiday hit. We love to decorate them as much as we love to eat them, because this recipe doesn’t skimp on the great ginger…

Piccalilli is a sweet-tart pickled vegetable relish. It’s a wonderful way to preserve a multitude of late summer vegetables. This version notably incorporates a large amount of unripe tomatoes, which were usually harvested after the first frost. This recipe in particular is based on my grandmother’s, though I have updated…

Varied parts of the U.S. have traditions regarding foods that are considered lucky if eaten on New Year’s Day. In my family, that means a big pot of black-eyed peas, served with cornbread and piccalilli relish. Today, I’m sharing our family favorite recipe for black-eyed peas, cooked with ham hocks.…

I know we are all still working on the December holidays, but I wanted to get a head start on the first dinner of the New Year. Varied parts of the U.S. have traditions regarding foods that are considered lucky if eaten on New Year’s Day. In my family, that…

My favorite holiday dessert is my mother’s trifle. Her trifle is not the classic “Ye Olde English Trifle,” but even more delicious! She combines elements from Italy, Portugal and France for a uniquely delicious experience. But, before I tell you all her secrets, let’s discuss a few other layered desserts.…

Cooking Around the Calendar with Elyza MacAlister I grew up in a food-loving family, so it’s no surprise that cooking is one of my hobbies. I’ve lived all over the U.S. and never get tired of discovering new types of regional cuisine. But not just our home cooking; I love…