Recipes

Earl Grey Marshmallows

Making marshmallows is a fun kitchen project for young and old. The gelatin transforms in the mixer from a liquid to a big gooey cloud, and then you get to shmear out the whole mess in a cloud of powdered sugar. What's not to love! And some versions come together to be twice as nice like this elegant one flavored with Earl Grey. This bestselling tea is beloved for its malty rich black tea base scented with bergamot. Infuse that into homemade marshmallows for a special treat for any occasion. Use them in a London Fog Latte or Rice Krispie Treat. You can also keep it simple and pop one on your hot cocoa or in s'mores - or eat them right out of the tray! Homemade marshmallows also make a thoughtful gift.

Advieh Date Bars

Dates deserve more credit! They have a rich, fruity taste, similar to a raisin, with a honey or caramel sweetness. It's a versatile flavor, making them fantastic in all sorts of food. Growing up, I loved the date bars my mother would make from a mix she found at the grocery store. That mix hasn't been available for a long time, but I acquired a recipe from a coworker years later, that makes an excellent substitute. Of course, we couldn't resist giving it a few tweaks...Dates are common throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East, and feature heavily in local cuisines as both a stand-alone snack and an ingredient in sweet or savory dishes. We seasoned these date bars with the Advieh, a Persian spice blend. With a blend of cassia and true cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, and roses, it's an ideal mix to add depth to the natural flavor of the dates. We went light on added sugar for this recipe, letting the natural sweetness of the dates do the heavy lifting. It's a good thing, too, since you won't feel guilty for eating two!

Saffron Marshmallows

10 min

Once you master marshmallow making, the sky's the limit on how many flavors you can come up with, just make sure to allow an extra day for them to cure before cutting into your desired shapes. This thrifty recipe makes more than enough for a romantic twosome so you'll have Valentine's marshmallows to share with everyone in the class.  Perfect to top a creamy cocoa, or toast around a romantic campfire, the flavor of the saffron comes through beautifully and adds a very special touch.

Damiana Rose Truffles

Add a legendary aphrodisiac herb to your next batch of truffles just in time for Valentine's Day! Damiana has been used for centuries as a mild herbal aphrodisiac and adds exotic flavor to perfectly complement dark chocolate and rose. These truffles are a delicious romantic treat. Sweetened with honey and easy to make, they will satisfy any chocolate craving. Perfect for a Valentine's day gift or dessert, serve them alongside a cup of our Pink Chai or Onyx Rose tea and enjoy the moment.

Mulled Cranberry Mimosa

Here are a few of our favorite things, crisp bubbly champagne, fresh cranberry juice cocktail, and mulling spices. In this Mulled Cranberry Mimosa you can have them all! After taking a sip of this brunch favorite, we realized that the inspiration came from another classic cocktail, a Cosmo, and this holiday twist on a classic is festive garnished with lime and fresh cranberries that bob in the bubbly. This recipe makes a whole quart of the mulled cranberry base, enough to host a party or to keep in the fridge for the season!

Mulled Honey Glögg

Glögg. The name alone makes you feel cozy. From start to finish, this Nordic drink is a delight. It is fun to make, aromatic and nutty and the warm cuppa is simply delicious. Our version breaks the traditional mold with white wine and honey for a lighter beverage, but it still contains all the spices, nuts and fruit that signal Glögg is in the house! After a quick simmer of lightly toasted slivered almonds and Mulling Spice in crisp white wine, the Glögg is tiered with flavors from elderflower liqueur, brandy and cranberries, turning the floral golden liquid into a beautiful blush pink. We recommend making ahead so that the it can sit overnight, as the flavors will meld together and become one. It's another perfect batch cocktail for the season, and once it's strained, serve warm and garnish with apples, pears, star anise or a cinnamon stick. Each cup will bring a smile and taste of warm cheer.

Spice-Rolled Goat Cheese

Happy National Cheese Ball Day! This time-honored appetizer is a classic worthy of celebration so we've added a range of flavors to goat cheese with three of our favorite spice blends - Dukkah, Green Za'atar and Syrian Za'atar. Bold and spice forward, these cheese balls are easy to make and each one offers a different flavor. All pair well with goat cheese so pick your favorite or enjoy them all! Hazelnuts and toasted sesame add texture to our Egyptian Dukkah along with cumin, marjoram and thyme. Both of our za'atar blends have toasted sesame as well, but different spices. Green Za'atar is more herb forward with dill, thyme and hints of sumac. The Syrian Za'atar. has a larger measure of sumac along with coriander, cumin and hints of anise. Finish up this plate with crudité and this board will have a taste for every palate.

Eggnog Chiffon Pie

One sure sign that winter has arrived is the appearance of eggnog in the grocery stores. We're going to use that distinctive flavor here in this light and airy Eggnog Chiffon Pie, but we'll also be giving it a subtle new make-over by substituting Mace for the traditional Nutmeg. This allows the mellow, earthier tones of the Mace to shine through, tempered by a judicious touch of spirits. Typically, a chiffon pie gets it's soft, pillowy texture from a combination of whipped cream, whipped raw egg whites and a cooked creme anglaise, or custard sauce, stabilized with a little gelatin. In the interest of food safety we opted to make a Swiss Meringue with the whites, which quickly cooks the eggs to a safe temperature before whipping them up. The crust includes more spices and ground pecans, providing a satisfying crumbly contrast to the smooth, creamy filling.

Grandma's Swedish Cardamom Bread

This holiday treat comes to us from our friend Erica, who graciously agreed to share her family recipe with the blog. The bread it makes is rich and sweet, with the cardamom and orange zest adding just the right amount of spicy flavor. We'll leave it to her to talk about the history...From Erica: My Swedish Grandma, Esther Priscilla Wiberg, passed this recipe onto my mother who passed it on to me. I make it every Christmas as a braided wreath, adorned with Holly leaves and berries secured with a red velveteen ribbon. My friends and neighbors pay homage to Grandma Esther every holiday by devouring a slice of homemade bread with butter or homemade cranberry sauce. Last year, after moving to Montana, my husband and I delivered the bread to our new neighbors via horseback through the snow.