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Favorite Recipes Right Now what some people are making this holiday season and more at chefshop.com/enews |
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| Recipes | Chef's Pantries | Shop for Food & Ingredients | Food Blog |
The Weather Outside Makes me want a fire, a cookbook and a cookie.... It’s raining cats and dogs outside and wouldn’t you know it - it’s the first day of winter! And it’s blowing like all get out! Usually just one side of the house gets hit with a drenching while the other two or three sides stay relatively dry. Not in this storm! You can hear it swirling around out there. The rain is so massive it sounds like a truck is driving by your window on a highway with its tires throwing the water everywhere. It makes me think of how lucky we are to be protected from the elements (and how many are not this holiday season)! Today, in all this rain, the day's mail was delivered with a water logged box that was drowning on the front stoop. I peeled back the cardboard to reveal a tin with “joy” written on the side, and a view of the contents inside through a window on top. Excitement is an understatement. This is a handmaid’s tale about cookies from a dear friend. Nothing like a homemade cookie to make you feel loved! And Joy is not just a word for the holidays, though it certainly is spoken this time of year...joy is indeed a word that is wonderful to share. The bible has over 100 joys in it (I Googled it). And what perfect timing for this week's newsletter theme, the first annual "Holiday what-cha-makin recipe Newsletter". I went out (I texted) and asked a bunch of friends to share the recipes that they always make; want to make; feel like making, specifically this year during the holiday season. And this is what they shared with me to share with you, our readers, customers, (the best customers on the planet, by the way) and friends, too. Thanks for all the thanks sent, including the “Hi Hi Hi, Ho Ho Ho, your products are Great!” “Hi! Hope your business is holding up during all this weirdness. I’m looking forward to being in your shop again, hopefully soon.” “Hi, hope everyone is doing well.” “Hi! :-) I hope you all are happy, healthy, and safe. Here's to 2020 ending with the happiest of holiday seasons. <3” “It's NOT officially Christmas until the Sorrento Lemon Panettone has arrived. We thank you; our friends and family thank you! Happy Holidays to you all!” “Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday season.” When we started out we wanted to make the impersonal electronic communication as personal as humanly possible, even if we only spoke via a keyboard. We wanted to put a face on the computer screen. Now, 20 plus years later, it seems like the norm to be “electronic”. We like sharing (often a life’s work, of) food made by the hand of a human you can virtually reach out and touch. And we love the store and being able to talk about food with you all. This year with all the wonderful notes that you have sent and shared this holiday season, it is wonderful (we knew) to find that, though it is electric, this “shop” is a two way street! And we are thankful and loving it! Cheers for every celebration you do! We wish joy will find its way to you in the year ahead. Search now for a recipe that will make you smile! |
Jodi Mexican Wedding Cakes - a cookie When I asked Jodi for a recipe she had a lot of ideas. We are old friends and we talk about food at least half the time, the other half of the time about houses. This time of year she makes cookies, and every year they seem to be better than the last. She said, "The hazelnut ones are new this year, they were even better when they were crisp and don’t even need the chocolate. My new fave. I love making cookies. These Mexican Wedding Cakes (it's a cookie) are my all time favorite." Jodi asked, "I got them mostly from Rose’s Christmas something or other, I have to look. Which ones did you like?" I responded, "I don't know, all of them, i ate half of them already." Having at least one of Rose's baking books is essential to your cookbook library! More than one is even better! See the Mexican Wedding Cake Recipe!! |
Ann Cranberry Bread! I asked, and lots of thinking could be heard, then Ann said she would love to share, but after orders were shipped out. Ann, you see, has been overwhelmed by orders for her scarves and fingerless gloves. For the last 29 years she has been inspired to make a change in people's lives and started OpportunityKnits in 2017 as a way to contribute and make a difference. From her site: "The mission of OpportunityKnits is to support women in transition from prison back to community, family and employment. 10% of all sales are used to purchase personal care items, which I donate via my friends and former colleagues at Roadmap to Success, a local re-entry program." And then the next day she said, "I know, I’ll make cranberry bread. Do you need it typed out or can I send a pic of the recipe?" And then she made the bread that night and sent a pic in the morning. (I wonder why I didn't get any bread???) 
And as a bonus she shared another recipe she makes this time of year.... See the Cranberry Bread Recipe and the other recipes here! |
johnny Key Lime Cake, Nan's Lemon Thins, Buckeyes Recipes I met Johnny at The Aspen Food & Wine Event 12 years ago. So we see each other once a year in Aspen and spend all day together for 8 long days. He works hard cooking and managing one of the 4 stages. He used to party hard, so hard he broke his leg one year dancing. He doesn't do that anymore. Now we go to dinner instead. When he is not doing cooking events he is Executive Chef at the Gourmet Grocer, Norman Brothers Produce, in the Miami area. When I asked Johnny for a recipe he responded with 3! He chose "family" recipes, the ones that say "holiday". The coolest one he sent is a copy of his grandmother's recipe "burned" onto a piece of wood that his sister had done. What a cool way to share and pass on a recipe! Check out all the 2020 recipes here! |
Jason Crab Cakes Baltimore Style! Jason is one of our regulars. He always comes in with a mission. Something he has found to make, to try, to experiment on. And always looking for a hard-to-find ingredient! And often gives us ideas for things we should have! Jason tells me that he ALWAYS makes crab cakes on Christmas Eve. Apparently his version is a "riff" on a recipe from New York Times by Pierre Franey. His version of this recipe is here. He serves them with a French Creole-inspired remoulade sauce -- also from the same NYT article. See The Crab Cakes Recipe here and all the other ones from this newsletter! |
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Victor Diplomatico We have become friends with Victor, Marcella Hazan's husband, over the years. First, from book signings and launches and evolution of time. Victor is one of our very first customers! So when we asked for a traditional holiday recipe to share, this is what he thought of. "Finding a holiday recipe ... is more complicated than would appear. Marcella ... used very few ingredients, next to no spices, and rarely anything packaged or tinned, with the exception of tomatoes and tuna. A recipe that comes to mind is Diplomatico, a chocolate dessert using store-bought pound cake as a foundation. It was hugely popular with our students throughout the years. It's absurdly simple, needs no baking, and if done carefully, it's super delicious. It's on page 577 of " Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking" (Penguin Random House, 1992.) See the Diplomatico Recipe here and all the other great recipes we received this holiday season! |
Marc Best Mashed Potatoes! Marc is not an eat-to-live or live-to-eat kind of human, what he is is a fanatical eater who therefore loves to cook. When I asked Marc for a recipe, he texted me back instantly. You have to know Marc and know his pride in his children is giant, and in the text I could hear him yelling, "My daughter has a fantastic recipe for mashed potatoes. They are the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had. Is that good? Or is there something else you would like from me?" I responded, "Anything you want to share that you want to make this time of year...." He promptly sent his daughters recipe. He also told me that he and his daughter talk on the phone every Sunday about food. See Marc's daughter's recipe for the Best Mashed Potatoes here! |
Lori Nancy's Yam Casserole Lori has shared this recipe with me before and it is good! It is wicked easy, simple and tasty! Lori is a cook like a lot of us (a lot more organized than I am when it comes to recipes) who love to cook. And food is not just making a meal, it is indeed about family, tradition, caring and sharing. It is a reflection of who Lori is. See Nancy's Yam Casserole Recipe and more here! |
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Scotty Queijadas Back in the beginning of time while we were first making ChefShop.com, our friend Scotty was helping make AllRecipes into a powerhouse of recipe sharing. He is this super smart, technical guy who rides a bike, loves cars, and has been perfecting making pretzels. He even has a specific oven for making pretzels. So when I asked him for a recipe to share he sent this one. Queijadas. It is his recipe and of course, you can find it on AllRecipes. "Super easy to make, and these won't last long. Try substituting almond or lemon extract for the vanilla. Or top them with flaked coconut or fresh fruit before baking!" Find the Queijadas Recipe and more here! |
Don Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage! From 1980 to 1984 my friend Don was Chef Louis Szathmary Head Service Chef. Which meant he ran The Bakery when Chef Louis was not there, which at the time was often. Besides cooking for all the wild personalities that flocked to have Chef Louis cook for them, he did photos for the Chef and Don also married the pastry person. Don is old school cooking, he tastes everything with his finger, and cooks with his eyes, his senses and instinct. Nothing throws him, he just makes it taste good! "The sweet/sour flavor profile cooked into the crisp, fresh cabbage makes this an ideal side dish for your roasted poultry or roast pork dinners. This year we served it at home with our favorite roast duck. You may elaborate on the recipe by adding apple wedges or golden raisins to the cabbage as it cooks" -- Don See the Sweet and Sour Cabbage Recipe here! |
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Tina Pimiento Cheese Recipe and Cauliflower Broccoflower and Frisee Salad with Olives Recipes! Editor. Taster. Tester. Product Scout. Previously Exec Food Editor at Food & Wine for eons (over 30 years). I have known Tina, as Tina for a long time (she is a childhood friend of a friend). It took a long time to realize she was the Food & Wine Food editor and knew boatloads about food, recipes, ingredients, really anything and everything. She is like a human food memory database. Ask her and she knows the answer. And the most amazing thing (at least to me) is she can read a recipe and make it better without even making it. And these are the 2 recipes she sent our way. You can also find them at FoodandWine.com . "This is a recipe I’ve been making for 20 plus years!!! Super crunchy, tangy & refreshing! I’ll send the other one in a few," she said. "Just one? l’ll write it out and send today. Super simple pimento cheese - ok???" She continued, "We made this by the bucket for every F & W party - always a huge hit and so easy, especially if you mince the onion and shred the cheese in the processor - I use extra sharp, then just pulse in the mayo and hot sauce. It’s killer on a burger too, and in a BLT." See Tina's Recipes here and all the ones from today! |
ChefShop Cocoa Powder! Check your stock of Cocoa powder after this busy holiday baking! I think I will fix our oven so we can get baking again! WOW! "Was using various permutations of King Arthur Cocoas. Just tried this in my usually very good cocoa brownies. I could smell and taste the difference immediately. Revelation! Will never use another cocoa. This is THE BEST!" -- joan Shop now for Cocoa Powder! |
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Got questions? Call or email and we will do our best to answer your questions! We love sharing our taste opinions about all our products. STORE HOURS UPDATE: Special hours - Monday: CLOSED, Tuesday thru Saturday: 10 to 6, Sunday Noon to 4. Please let us know if you would like a private shopping time and we will do our best to accommodate you. We now have air filters running 24 hours a day. Please keep in mind we are limiting the number of people in the shop at one time. | |
Just arrived! Hawkshead Great Taste Award Winner Westmorland Chutney The daddy of all chutneys, this is a very traditional, dark fruity chutney, that goes with everything from cheese, cold meats to shepherd’s pie; no cheese sandwich should be allowed to go without Hawkshead Westmorland Chutney and no order would be complete without a jar of this. We think that this is one fancy dancy chutney. Deep, rich, flavorful, perfection for meats of all kinds. This is a condiment worth having, always! Shop now for Hawkshead Great Taste Award Winner Westmorland Chutney! 
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Store Hours - Sunday 12 to 4, CLOSED MONDAY, Tuesday thru Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 5 If your order has been confirmed as "ORDER READY FOR PICKUP" in email (or you were called) and want it brought to you in the parking lot, call us when you arrive and we will run it out to you. 206-286-9988 ChefShop.com 1425 Elliott Ave W Seattle, Wa 98119 206-286-9988 Our bigger parking lot is north of the shop and next door (south of) Champions Party Supply. Easy to reach and wide open parking lot. Click here to see the map. |
| This Week's Recipes |
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Basic Magic 7 Layer Cookie Recipe From the can of Borden's Eagle Brand of sweetened Condensed Milk. This recipe has been around forever! And most everyone has made it or eaten it and it is wicked easy to make! Modify it for your own pleasure. Homemade Vodka Pie Crust from Scratch Recipe This recipe is based on Cooks Illustrated "almost famous" pie crust recipe. Check out Cooks Illustrated, they do good things. Basic Pasta with Olive Oil Recipe This recipe is so simple. And because it is simple, every ingredients is critical. Only the best will do - because you will taste every bite. Of course, you can add this or that, with a focus on quality. Capers, tuna, semi-dried tomatoes, hard-neck garlic, etc. |
| See what you missed in previous Newsletters |
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Gifts Lighter Than Air, 100-YR Balsamic Shipping Included, More Time to Panic - Ground Shipping Cut-off - Stocking Stuffers Candy Cane, Rustic Tools, Giant Peppermint |
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