Breads, Breakfast/Brunch, Sweet Snacks

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cocoa Crumble

These Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cocoa Crumble turned out to be really, really yummy, with one caveat. They are great within a few hours coming out of the oven. The tangy raspberries play well with the chocolate chips and the crumble is a nice addition. But in a rare time that I say “eat them right away or make a half batch” they didn’t hold up well after a few hours. Mainly because the crumble got really hard, surprisingly quickly. So that was a disappointment. I suppose that you could also make them with regular (non-cocoa) crumble that doesn’t get rock hard, or just eat them very expeditiously.

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4. January 2026
Appetizers/Starters, Savory Snacks

Prosperity Pig Parmesan Crackers

I may have mentioned this before, but pigs are a symbol of good luck in Germany … Glücksschweine. The origins are from medieval times, where if you had a boar or pig, you would survive through the winter. Often right around New Year’s little big symbols (fondant, marzipan, chocolate) are given as resents to wish good luck for the coming year. These Prosperity Pig Parmesan Crackers are right along those lines as well. You obviously could also make them just as regular square or round crackers, but this is much more fun.

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1. January 2026
Desserts, Sweet Snacks

Mince Tartlets with Candied Pecan Crust

I didn’t think that I would be a mincemeat person. I mean, I like raisins and dried fruit on the whole — and my recipe has raisins, sultanas, dates, apples and even a bit of dried apricot in addition to the candied lemon and orange — but I didn’t think that I would like it as much as I do. The reasons are two fold: I added candied pecans (crushed to powder in the MagiMix) to add a amazing nutty note to the crust, but 2. most importantly, serving it was gingerbread ice cream. That definitely cut the sweetness and made this the perfect Christmas dessert.

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30. December 2025
Sides

Roasted Cranberry Peach Chutney

It’s snowing here, whilst I am up in Maine for the weekend, and given that it is November, I am ok with that. It also means that it is coming right up on Thanksgiving. As many longtime followers will know, pretty much every year, I try a new take on Cranberry Sauce. Some years, it been with champagne or port wine, some years, I have added other fruit, which is where we are today: Roasted Cranberry Peach Chutney. A bit of late summer sunshine (the peaches), tilted to fall. A bit of late summer sunshine (the peaches), tilted to fall with those tart, crisp cranberries.

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16. November 2025