Fix-It and Forget-It

Rebecca is my daughter. She’s a very good cook. While I couldn’t get her to chop an onion when she was growing up, she’s become a cook who tries everything now—successfully. She also is the Manager of The Good Cooking Store in our little Lancaster County town of Intercourse, PA. She taught Language Arts to middle-schoolers for 7 years. Now we benefit from all of her energy and good ideas. Don’t miss what she has to say!

This is one of my favorite times of the year. I feel extra energy in the air as I rush to decorate, buy gifts, and make food for family and friends. Continue Reading...

‘Tis the season for hot punch, and this cheerful tart-sweet pomegranate concoction is just the thing to get your holiday parties off to a great start. Continue Reading...

Yesterday was National Linguine Day, and that got us thinking: What other obscure food holidays might we be missing out on?

An internet search turned up this handy list of September food observances and celebrations. Turns out we’ve missed quite a few, and we feel an obligation to make up for lost time.

For starters, it’s National Biscuit Month, National Breakfast Month, and National Papaya Month, among others. Unfortunately, we missed International Bacon Day (International? Really?), but there’s still time to catch the end of National Waffle Week. And although we weren’t on it in time to celebrate all the holidays prior to today, we’re glad to see we can still observe National Cheeseburger Day, National Guacamole Day, National Butterscotch Pudding Day, and National Chocolate Milk Day.

Which of these holidays will you be making a point of celebrating? Let us know in the Comments section below.

Suddenly Christmas is over, but we’re just not quite ready to stop celebrating. Many of us have a few more family gatherings to go to and just one or two more holiday meals to make and serve. Yes, we’re clinging to that Christmas cheer just a little longer.

There are few flavors that remind us more of Christmas than eggnog—that wonderful, frothy beverage we only drink at this time of year.

The first time we made this custard, we just loved the soft blend of Christmas-y flavors from the sharp bite of the gingersnaps and the creamy eggnog. We served this thick custard straight from the slow cooker while it was still warm. But it was just as delicious when we snuck back to the fridge a little while later for a second serving of the chilled dessert.

Maybe we’ll make it a third time and serve it to our friends when we’re counting down the minutes until midnight this New Year’s Eve.
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Our little town is bursting with Christmas cheer. The greenhouses are full of vibrant poinsettias like the ones pictured above.

And Horns of Plenty—this brass band—dropped by recently to play a few Christmas Carol favorites.

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