Lamb, Lentil, and Green Chile Chili

Not the usual chili

Cold and snowy? That means it’s time for chili! Spicy and hearty = warm.

But why go for the same old same old? Today we’re using lamb and lentils – two ingredients that pair extremely well. You don’t often see them in chili, but why not? Both play beautifully with spice.

This chili would make a terrific main dish for your Super Bowl party. It’s something most people won’t expect, so it can be your own personal trick play. Sounds like a touchdown in our book.

Coq au Vin

Soothe your winter blues with this classic French recipe for wine-braised chicken

We have a foot of snow in our corner of the world. Time for comfort food! And what could be better than a meaty dish slowly braised in rich wine sauce?

Enter coq au vin, a classic French recipe. It requires some prep work, but the result is so worth it. Serve this at your next dinner party and bask in the adoring applause.

Adoration works for you, right?

The Eastern Sour Cocktail

A bourbon-fueled Tiki classic from Trader Vic

It’s a new year, so time to discover a new drink. Allow us to present the Eastern Sour Cocktail.

This one is a tasty mix of bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, and orgeat syrup. Which makes it perfect for winter, we think. All that citrus has to be great for combating colds and flu.

To your health!

Holiday Sweets and Baking

Almond Sugar Cookies

Enjoy some of our favorite Christmas and New Year’s recipes

Sweets and baking? It must be holiday season!

This week we’re collecting some of our favorite recipes (both sweet and savory) that we think you’d particularly enjoy this time of year.

Ready, set, glow!

Fennel, Orange, and Arugula Salad

Colorful and tasty, this salad makes an excellent winter starter

It’s peak citrus time in our part of the world. Fortunately, oranges fit in everywhere, right?

Especially salads. In this one, orange slices cavort with the anise-like flavor of fennel and the peppery goodness of arugula.

The result? A winter wonderplate.

The Netherland Cocktail

A brandy-based classic with orange liqueur

December is here, so winter holidays are nigh. Send in the oranges! Better yet, pour the orange liqueur.

The Netherland Cocktail overflows with seasonal cheer. And its base spirit is brandy, which excels at warding off winter’s chill.

It’s a nice cocktail, indeed. But you may want to be naughty and have more than one.

The Royal Hawaiian Cocktail

Named after the historic Waikiki Beach hotel

We’re back from a cruise that took us from Hawaii to Tahiti. But our heads remain in vacation mode, so we’re still craving beach drinks.

Royal Hawaiian Cocktail to the rescue! It features tongue-tingling dry gin and lemon, plus pineapple juice for that tropical touch.

Aloha.