Gingerbread is one of those holiday treats that shouldn’t be restricted to the months of November and December. Don’t you agree? And yet, it does have a special appeal during the cooler months. There’s nothing quite like beginning a crisp November morning with a confectioner’s sugar dusted piece of gingerbread, perhaps served with a dollop of whipped cream and a hot cup of coffee. Mmm mmm.

I sometimes wonder how foods became associated with particular seasons. Gingerbread, for instance, originated in the kitchens of ancient Greeks and Egyptians for ceremonial purposes and was brought back to Europe by 11th-century crusaders returning from the Middle East. How did it go from exotic foreign food that only the rich could afford to a scrumptious staple on the Thanksgiving – and especially Christmas – table?

Passover is in full swing and if you’re anything like me you’re getting mighty creative with your menu this week. Anything derived from the five major grains, plus rice and beans, are still off limits… which is problematic when your favorite pastime is baking and you love eating pasta. Add a vegetarian diet to the mix and hoo boy! Time …

For years my husband has been asking me to make tiramisu. I always resisted because it seemed like a complicated dish with all those layers of coffee, zabaglione and savoiardi. But as it turns out, tiramisu is ridiculously easy to make – especially if you use pre-made savoiardi (also called ladyfingers) from your local bakery or Whole Foods. It’s even …

In college, rice pudding was my late-night treat of choice. It’s relatively healthy, was easy to make in our microscopic dorm kitchen, and most importantly, didn’t tax my then-limited cooking skills. I kept stacks of Jello-O rice pudding boxes in my room (in my bookcase, actually) and stored small, cinnamon-sprinkled bowls of pudding in my mini fridge. They were just …

February 24th is National Pancake Day and since I love pancakes I couldn’t help but share one of my favorite recipes with you. Whole Wheat Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes are easy to make and packed with good-for-you nutrients in the form of whole wheat flour, wheat germ and blueberries. Buttermilk (which, fyi is lower in fat and calories than regular milk!) …

For me, baking with cast iron evokes the imagination. Here in my suburban kitchen, I imagine myself in a rustic cabin somewhere in the country. The crisp, late autumn breeze is kept at bay by a warm fire dancing in the fireplace, and it’s just me, my family, and the sounds of early morning. There is no television, no radio, …