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Rudolph the Red Velvet Cupcake 

I saw these cute cupcakes on Pinterest (yes, I’m addicted) and knew I wanted to make them. After great success with my snowman cupcakes, I knew I wanted to make them with Greek yogurt again.  ….read more at skinnytaste.com

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Yes We P’Can Tarts | Cookie Recipe

This is by far one of my favorite cookies of the year, but I’m especially partial to shortbread recipes. I used Chai honey from Beekind to spice up my glazed nuts. You’ll be the hit of the party if you make a few extra nuts for snacking on  ….read more at bite club eats….

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Recipe: Holiday Breakfast Wreath

I’ve been writing about this wreath on the site since 2008, each year updating the story, because I think it’s worth reminding you how perfect this bread is to start a holiday morning. …read more at the kitchn

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Potato Streusel Coffee Cake 

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Italian scientists find beer offers same cardiovascular benefits as wine

The cardiovascular benefits of moderate red wine drinking have been touted for years, but new research suggests the same positive health effects can be offered from beer

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90065212?Italian%20scientists%20find%20beer%20offers%20same%20cardiovascular%20benefits%20as%20wine#ixzz1gXRqmX8Z

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Los Angeles is enjoying a hot dog renaissance

It’s boom time for hot dogs in L.A. Pink’s and Tommy’s are going strong, with newcomers Dog Haus, Federal Bar, Slaw Dogs, Coney Dog and Papaya King raising the stakes.  From the Los Angles Times … more

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To poach a pear

My mother is usually the one who makes poached pears. I have a photo of her in an old family album, holding a platter of them. By the length of her hair, I’m guessing that the year was 1982. My father must have snapped the picture as they were leaving for a holiday party. That was the kind of thing he liked to do. She’s standing in the wood-paneled den of the house we lived in until I was 13, wearing what appears to be a sand-colored fur jacket. She must have curled her hair with hot rollers, because it sits on her shoulders in soft loops, and where she’s pinned it back above her left ear, you can see the sparkle of her earring. Her eyes are lined in dark pencil, and her lipstick is as red and glossy as a Robert Palmer girl’s. She’s staring at something just beyond the camera, probably waiting for the flash to go off. The platter is in front of her chest, tilted slightly downward, so you can see the pears in neat rows. For her, that’s clearly what the photo is about: a dozen pears standing upright, each carefully peeled, poached, painted in dark chocolate, and topped with a sprig of fresh holly leaves. I like that for my father, the photo is clearly about her.

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A few weeks ago, the lovely Camille from the very creative Camille Styles site asked me if I wanted to be part of her “12 Tastes of Christmas” series. I already knew the recipe I wanted to contribute, one of my favorite from last year, a Homemade Gravlax And Prawn Crackers Appetizer. I also took the opportunity that it was Thanksgiving when she asked to come up with a pretty and sweet theme for the table setting.

I must say, I have a strong aversion for yellows and oranges. It’s visceral. When Thanksgiving comes around, I always try to break out of the traditional yellow and orange center pieces. As far as I know, there is no rule that says you can’t do purple to celebrate. The table set I created this year to solve that issue not only takes care of the usual Thanksgiving colors but also works perfectly for a different kind of Christmas.

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