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Archives / 2012 / December
  • New Year's Food Traditions: Lucky Foods from Around the World

    Black-Eyed Peas | CHEFS Mix

    December 27, 2012

    On New Year’s Day, indulging in good luck foods for prosperity and health is a time-honored custom around the world. For example, in the United States, eating black-eyed peas is a popular Southern tradition (look for our recipe for "Hoppin' John" at the end of this post).

    If you’re still planning your New Year’s Eve celebration or New Year’s Day brunch and are a tiny bit superstitious, add some of these good luck foods for an inspired and eclectic menu.

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    Tags: Legumes, Holiday

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • Garlic Soup Recipe

    Garlic Soup Ingredients at CHEFS Mix

    December 26, 2012

    Every month or so, I join several of my CHEFS colleagues for a potluck lunch. We're all food-loving cooking enthusiasts with a diversity of kitchen experiences and cooking skills. The cooking challenge is simple: make and share healthy dishes that use fresh, seasonal ingredients and accommodate specific dietary restrictions like gluten-free and low-fat.

    The centerpiece of our recent lunch was my version of Jacques Pépin‘s garlic soup recipe from an episode of Essential Pépin. The soup was a light, creamy and flavorful purée, perfect for lunch. It would also be a delicious addition to any post-holiday, game day or winter meal.

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    Tags: Soup

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • A Gift for you from Cook’s Country and CHEFS

    Down Home Holiday Entertaining | CHEFS Mix & Cook's Country

    December 21, 2012

    If you watch the popular Cook’s Country television show on PBS, you know that CHEFS Catalog has been an underwriter since the 2011 season. Like Cook’s Country, we’re passionate about cooking and helping you use the best cooking tools and recipes to make great meals for family and friends.

    To celebrate this partnership, we’re delighted to give you a set of Cook’s Country recipes handpicked for readers of CHEFS Mix.

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    Tags: Cook's Country

    Categories: Food & Recipes, In The Spotlight

  • Recipe Ideas for Quick and Easy, Last Minute Homemade Food Gifts

    Truffles & Peppermint Bark | CHEFS Mix

    December 20, 2012

    Did the words “quick and easy,” “last-minute” and “homemade” in the title catch your attention? The week before Christmas, they always capture mine.

    Despite my best efforts, I end up needing an unplanned gift or two. Before heading to the stores, I always check my pantry and kitchen for possible ideas – my friends really appreciate homemade food gifts from my kitchen. Over the years, I've learned that many gift-worthy recipes use readily available ingredients and take only an hour or two to make.

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    Tags: Gifts, Holiday

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • Homemade Irish Cream Recipes

    Irish Cream at CHEFS Mix

    December 19, 2012

    If you’re ready to stock your bar with store-bought Irish cream, consider making your own this year. Irish cream recipes are easy, and the liqueur is delicious over ice, in coffee or in mixed drinks. Homemade Irish Cream is also perfect for last minute gifts.

    Today at CHEFS Mix, we’re sharing two recipes for homemade Irish Cream: traditional and dairy-free.

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    Tags: beverages, Holiday, Gifts

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • Bread Pudding Recipe

    Bread Pudding Ingredients at CHEFS Mix

    December 18, 2012

    Several years ago, if I heard the words, “bread pudding,” I immediately imagined the too sweet lump of raisin-studded, milk-soaked bread I sampled in college. Today, I adore bread pudding for dessert especially around the holidays.

    What caused my change of heart?

    I credit Mark Bittman, the food writer best known for his cookbook, How to Cook Everything, and his New York Times food column, “The Minimalist.”

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    Tags: Dessert, baking

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • Cutlery: Get to know your kitchen knives

    Knives on Magnetic Bar at CHEFS Mix

    December 13, 2012

    The more you know about kitchen knives, the more fun you’ll have shopping for cutlery for your own collection or gifts. Today at CHEFS Mix, we’re answering basic questions about knives and how to choose the best ones for your kitchen.

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    Tags: Knives, Buying Guide

    Categories: Product Place, Tips & Advice

  • What's the best cookware?

    Old Cookware at CHEFS Mix

    December 11, 2012

    Is a cookware set for her first apartment on your niece’s wish list?
    Do you want to surprise a cooking enthusiast with specialty pan that will expand his cooking repertoire?
    Is choosing cookware confusing?

    If you answered “yes” to at least one question, you've come to the right place. Today at CHEFS Mix, we're sharing cookware basics that will boost your confidence when picking cookware for gifts or for your own kitchen..

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    Tags: Cookware, Gift Guide

    Categories: Product Place, Tips & Advice

  • Gift from the Kitchen: Lemon Curd

    Home-Canned Lemon Curd | CHEFS Mix

    December 10, 2012

    Winter is finally arriving here in Colorado. Soon we will all be craving the warmth and flavors of Spring and Summer. One of my favorite winter treats is lemon curd. Creamy and tart it is delicious in a simple pie or just eaten with a spoon, it’s a taste of sunshine. If you are making gifts from your kitchen this Holiday Season, Lemon Curd is a great stocking stuffer or addition to a baking gift basket.

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    Tags: Lemon, Dessert, Preserving, Canning

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • Top 10 Most Popular Kitchen Gifts

    Top 10 Popular Gifts | CHEFS Mix

    December 7, 2012

    Still looking for a gift for the cooks and bakers in your life? Come see what is currently trending and popular on the CHEFScatalog.com site.

    Looking for the perfect gift is always a challenge. Today on CHEFS Mix we are taking a look at the currently trending gifts and what makes them unique and special.

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    Tags: Gift Guide, Holiday

    Categories: Product Place, Tips & Advice

  • Wintertime Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Ciabatta

    Beef Stew & Ciabatta | CHEFS Mix

    December 5, 2012

    Ciabatta can be time consuming, but the crisp exterior and chewy interior make this bread hard to resist. Once you make it at home you won't want it from anywhere else but your own oven.

    The slow cooker hearty beef stew has a twist to its preparation to keep your veggies from getting mushy.

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    Tags: Stew, Beef, Ciabatta, Bread

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • During the Busy Holidays, A Slow Cooker Saves the Day

    Bean & Vegetable Soup at CHEFS Mix

    December 4, 2012

    During the holidays my slow cooker is a lifesaver and timesaver. Like most people, I am swamped with too many things to do. From holiday parties to shopping, there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. When it comes to cooking, my slow cooker jumps in and saves the day.

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    Tags: Slow Cooker, Holidays

    Categories: Food & Recipes, Tips & Advice

  • Peppermint Bark

    Peppermint Bark Recipe | CHEFS Mix

    December 3, 2012

    Make your own peppermint bark to enjoy or give as a gift. With a 4 ingredients and a few simple tools you can make this peppermint candy for a third the cost of buying a boxed version. This recipe makes about 2 pounds of candy.

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    Tags: Chocolate, Peppermint, Canndy

    Categories: Food & Recipes

  • Cookies by the Dozen - How to Store Cookies

    Cookies in Glass Jars at CHEFS Mix

    December 1, 2012

    When I bake cookies for friends and colleagues, my husband makes sure that I reserve a few dozen for him. Any other time of the year, storing a batch or two of homemade biscotti or chocolate chip cookies is a simple task. During the holidays, however, I bake a variety of crisp and soft cookies plus brownies. The last thing I want to do is dump all of them into one cookie jar. I need to keep soft cookies, soft, and crisp cookies delightfully crunchy.

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    Tags: Cookies, Holiday

    Categories: Food & Recipes, Tips & Advice