Inspiration / Recipes

Living in Wisconsin, I have come to expect bitterly cold winters. So, imagine my delight at a December of temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Was it unsettling? yes, but did I enjoy it? you bet! Alas, here we are in January and the temperatures have dropped to the bone-chilling single digits. Perfect weather for a nice warm cup of mulled wine. Mulled wine is one of those great recipes that is really hard to mess up and once you find the perfect combination, you will have a lovely signature drink. Bonus: it makes your house smell amazing. Mulled wine...

The difference between a high quality and low quality gin is profound. A high quality gin offers complex flavors that instantly send you to a lush Northern California hillside or an aromatic British seaside. Anchored by juniper, gin can include a multitude of botanicals. Some of the most common are: Angelica Coriander Bay Leaf Cardamom Citrus Cubeb Fennel Ginger Grains of Paradise Lavender Orris root Some of the newer gins are considered terroir gins and are designed to give the essence of the surrounding lands. My current favorite is St. George. They offer three styles, all of which, while unique,...

A good friend who has spent a lot of time in India recently introduced us to this lovely spicy chai latte recipe. In India, the word chai is synonymous with tea, so I'll avoid the term 'chai tea' here, as it can irritate some people. However, in the US, chai refers to a specific blend of tea and spices that produce a wonderfully aromatic infusion. You can purchase chai teabags, but why do that when everything you need is right in your AllSpice rack. It is the perfect warm sweet drink for fall and it is a good excuse to show you...

As we enter the holiday season, our homes become filled with the scents of baking and cooking for family celebrations. On those days that you are not cooking for a big family get together, you can still fill your house with lovely scents from your AllSpice rack. Simply boil a pan of water, add spices and perhaps a few fruits, turn it down to a simmer and continue to add water as the water boils out.  Be creative with the spices and fruits you use! There are lots of options. To get you started, here are a few suggestions (for...

This time of year the farmers' markets are just brimming with freshly picked apples.  If you are like me, you can't help but pick up a bag at market and then go apple picking later that same afternoon. When you find yourself drowning in apples, you can preserve some of that wonderful fall freshness by making applesauce to last through the winter. This is our favorite chunky, cinnamon applesauce recipe. 10 cooking apples peeled, cored and diced into half inch pieces 2-3 teaspoons of sweet cinnamon (to taste) 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon of cloves 1/2 cup of brown...