Through the years, I have often visited local Italian bakeries but none of the cookies were like the cookies I remembered from childhood. Then one day, I received a bag of CiCi’s Handmade Italian Butterhorn cookies and I was instantly taken back to the late 1970′s and memories of Aunt Cookie. CiCi’s Handmade Italian Butterhorns are hand rolled Italian butter cookies made from a light buttery dough filled with cinnamon, sugar, and walnuts.  Moist and buttery with a nutty sweet flavor on the inside and a flaky crust, butterhorns melt in your mouth the way a cookie is supposed to.

CiCi’s Handmade Italian Butterhorns are made by Christine Falatico Frey who grew up in California but would often visit her grandparents in Utica, New York where her Nana Julie would teach her to make butterhorns: the secret of which is in the pure ingredients and the rolling of the dough. Years passed by and as Christine raised her own family, she continued to make butterhorns which led her to start her own business making CiCi’s Handmade Italian Butterhorns.

CiCi’s butterhorns are made with seven ingredients:  unbleached flour, salted butter, sour cream, egg yolk, sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts.  The cookies are packaged eight to a bag and are delicious with a cup of coffee or tea, as a snack, and are especially good for dessert after dinner. Priced at $8.99 per bag plus shipping, the cookies can be ordered directly from the company website listed below. Consider ordering 3 bags or more (they last for more than a month in an airtight bag) to save on shipping and because one bag is simply not enough!

CiCi’s Homemade Italian Butterhorns
925-297-9512
www.cicisitalianbutterhorns.com

Abe’s Market was founded by two friends, Richard Demb and Jon Polin who decided to create a business they would feel great about – both for the consumer and the environment. As natural product enthusiasts, Demb and Polin knew the marketplace needed a one-stop resource to connect the consumer with natural products – existing, new and hard-to-find items.The website not only offers the products at competitive prices but also provides the consumer with the nutritional information, product reviews, and information about the manufacturer and their other products – all on one page.

All too often, buying products on-line are cost prohibitive because of the shipping costs. With Abe’s Market, shipping is free with all orders of $49 or more (otherwise, $4.99). On a recent order placed on a Wednesday, my five products were shipped on a Thursday and arrived on Saturday. There was also a perishable item which was sent directly from the baker in Maine at no extra shipping cost.

Abe’s Market also carries natural baby and kids products (nearly 2,000), natural beauty products (nearly 1,100), natural bath and body products (nearly 2,000), natural health products (nearly 1,200), natural home products (1,600), eco-friendly clothing and accessories (more than 600), and  natural pet food and products (nearly 500). With more than 11,000 products offered, Abe’s Market is the go-to website for a wide variety of natural products competitively priced and shipped free (and fast). I haven’t been this excited about a website since Amazon was started!

Abe’s Market
888-636-9898
www.abesmarket.com

Amy’s Cookies of Brooklyn, New York makes the most luscious coconut macaroon two ways: a traditional plain version and a coconut macaroon dipped in dark chocolate. Each cookie is a mound of coconut decadence baked to perfection:  browned on the outside to give the crunch yet delightfully soft on the inside…and not too sweet. The addition of dark chocolate on half of the macaroon makes Amy’s Coconut Macaroons a special treat.

Each cookie is as high as it is long and weighs nearly 2 ounces. Exquisitely wrapped in a plastic bag with a pastel colored bow and placed in a decorated windowed bag within a beautiful hard decorated cardboard box filled with brightly colored raffia ribboned confetti, Amy’s Coconut Macaroons make a beautiful gift (even if to yourself). Half the fun is opening and unwrapping all the bags, ribbons, and boxes to get to the macaroons!

A dozen plain macaroons sell for $32 (wrapping included). Eight chocolate dipped coconut macaroons sell for $32 or ten cookies (6 plain and 4 chocolate dipped) sell for $32  plus shipping. Order on-line from the company website (listed below) or place an order by phone:

Amy’s Cookies
225 34th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11232
718-797-1513
www.amyscookies.com

Cream the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla together

Stir in dried cherries, oats and mini chocolate chips by hand

Bake 11 minutes for chewy cookies or 13-14 minutes for crispy

Dried Cherry and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup dried cherries

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350°F.  Cover a cookie sheet with silpat or parchment paper.  In a medium bowl mix flour, salt and baking soda and mix well.  In a separate bowl cream butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs until light and creamy.  Slowly add in the flour mixture until well incorporated.  Using a spatula or wooden spoon stir in oats, cherries and chocolate chips.  Using a scoop drop cookies 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake for about 11 minutes for chewy cookies or 13-14 minutes for crispier cookies.  Transfer cookies to cooling rack to cool.  Makes about 36-40 cookies.

Years ago when I visited my first Ladurée shop, I really wanted to love macarons – they looked exquisite and were beautifully packaged – but I never developed a passion for the little cookie cakes. Instead, I fell in love with the gift boxes and love nothing more than looking at the pale green box on my desk or giving the ribbon-covered gold draped green box of macarons as a gift. As disappointed as I was in myself for not liking macarons (how could I not like a dessert presented so beautifully?), I was able to move on and discover other great products produced by the master French house.

I go to Ladurée for two things: the shopping bags and the pastries, especially the “pain pistache abricot” (puff pastry with a pistachio and apricot filling in the form of a cinnamon roll).  In keeping with the company’s fashionable gift boxes, Ladurée makes practical but stunning insulated large black vinyl shopping bags. Rectangular in shape with a velcro strip across the interior top to keep the bag closed, the  bag screams “chic” while keeping cold foods chilled.

Over the past five years, I have received more comments and inquiries about my black Ladurée bag than any other accessory (except my rain boots but that’s another story). Even the guys that graciously pack my groceries at Whole Foods like my Ladurée bag and that says something because most guys don’t notice shopping bags. The bag sells for 18 euros ($22) in the Ladurée shops. Ladurée also makes an insulated lunch bag size perfect for the little fashionista but if black is not your preferred color, choose from a colorful variety of shopping totes displayed in the shops.

Ladurée has six shops in Paris and 27 stores around the world, including one on Madison Avenue in New York City, which carries the shopping tote bags. The company’s website does not offer on-line ordering options so you have to visit one of the shops, or call the New York store and ask if they will sell a tote bag over the phone and ship it to you. For a complete list of store locations and addresses, click on the link below. The address of the New York store is below:

Ladurée
864 Madison Avenue
New York, New York  10021
646-558-3157
www.laduree.fr

One final recommendation:  If you are in Paris, consider having a late morning snack, lunch, or an afternoon pick-me-up at one of the Ladurée restaurants called “tea salons” (addresses listed on the website) connected to the bakery counter. The food (especially the Club Champs Elysees: thin toasted crustless bread points with a light coating of olive oil, rocket greens, very thinly sliced parmesan cheese, tomato, zucchini, eggplant, pine nuts, and mozzarella cheese served with homemade thick cut french fries and dressed salad) is fabulous and the menu choices are quite extensive. Or, enjoy one of the many pastry works of art that taste as wonderful as they look. Don’t pass up the  exquisite “Millefeuille Fraise” (a strawberry Napolean): layers of buttery, flakey puff pastry filled with pastry cream (créme pátissiére) and fresh sliced strawberries. After admiring it’s beauty for it’s almost too perfect to eat, accept there is no easy or neat way to devour a Millefeuille Fraise; take a fork and knife and dig in.

Breaking News: A Ladurée restaurant will be opening in NYC next year, according to our wait person in the tea salon at the Ladurée at the Printemps de la Maison Haussmann (64, Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris). New York City will never be the same. I can already imagine the lines.

Cream butter and sugars. Then add eggs and flour mixture.

Stir the chocolate chunks and cranberries by hand

Scoop cookies using a scoop on a silpat (or parchment) lined cookie sheet

Enjoy a few

White Chocolate Chunk Cranberry Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup tightly packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tbsp brandy

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups white chocolate chunks

1 cup dried cranberries

Mix together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.  Set aside.  Using an electric mixer blend butter and sugars until creamy, add in the eggs and brandy until well blended.  Add flour mixture to the butter mixture beating at a low-speed until well blended.  Stir in white chocolate chunks (I used a knife and an ice pick to make my chunks) and cranberries by hand.  Drop cookie dough using a cookie scoop onto parchment or silpat lined cookie sheets.  Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned on the bottom.  Cool on cooling racks.

Last summer, the Chicago-based “I Heart Keenwah” rolled out four new snack foods made with quinoa. Recognizing the snack food market is heavily wheat-based and in need of a nutritious gluten-free snack food alternative, the company used whole grain quinoa, flakes, and puffs blended with nuts, and various sweeteners including tapioca syrup and honey, to come up with four all natural quinoa clusters:

Almond: The almond clusters contain quinoa, almonds, tapioca syrup, dried cane syrup, honey, almond oil, baking soda and salt.

Cranberry Cashew: The cranberry cashew clusters contain quinoa, cashews, tapioca syrup, raw sugar, fruit sweetened cranberries, honey, almond oil, baking soda and salt.

Ginger Peanut: The ginger peanut clusters contain quinoa, peanuts, tapioca syrup, raw sugar, crystallized ginger, honey, almond oil, baking soda, and salt.

Chocolate Sea Salt: The chocolate sea salt clusters contain quinoa, almonds, tapioca syrup, dried cane syrup, honey, organic dark chocolate, almond oil, baking soda, and salt.

Each 4 ounce resealable bag of clusters contain about 30 individual mini squares that are sweet, crunchy and reminiscent of a brittle. Incredibly satisfying, these treats are also nutritious with 2-3 grams of protein per serving (approximately 8 clusters) with no saturated or trans fat in the almond, cranberry cashew, and ginger peanut clusters (The Chocolate Sea Salt has 1 gram of saturated fat). Each bag sells for approximately $5 and can be purchased directly from the company on the website listed below or at specialty food stores in about 20 states (see the website below for a complete list of stores by state).

I Heart Keenwah
www.iheartkeenwah.com

Cigare:  The Cigare is a rolled hollow butter cookie (pictured below) with a delicate vanilla taste. The Cigare comes plain, lined with milk chocolate on the inside (Cigare au Chocolat), or with a french roast coffee and milk filling (Cigare Café au Lait).

Each cigare is individually wrapped and sealed in plastic and presented in a tin.

Billet:  The Billet Aux Amandes is a delicate square-shaped flat butter cookie with slivered almonds that comes plain or with a milk chocolate coating on one side (Billet Aux Amandes Chocolat). There is also a Billet Au Chocolat Au Lait which is a square-shaped flat butter cookie enrobed in milk chocolate.

The Double Chocolat Blanc is the company’s interpretation of a high-end Oreo Cookie: two square-shaped butter cookies with white chocolate in the middle and the Double Chocolat Au Lait are two square-shaped butter cookies with a layer of milk chocolate in the middle.

Bateau:  The Bateau de Macadamia is a rectangular shaped butter cookie with pieces of macadamia nuts that are either enrobed in milk chocolate or sandwich a milk chocolate layer between two cookies.

Each Yoku Moku cookie is individually wrapped in sealed packaging to ensure freshness and presented in a decorative tin. The cookies are perfect to serve with coffee or tea and the cigares are delicious with ice cream or frozen yogurt. A tin of Yoku Moku cookies also makes a thoughtful hostess gift.

Yoku Moku cookies are made in Japan by the Yoku Moku company. The founder of the company, Norlichi Fujinawa named his company after a village called Jokkmokk in northern Sweden that he visited and was impressed with.

Yoku Moku cookies are very popular in Japan and are growing in popularity in the US. Many department stores (Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman,), speciality stores (Dean & Deluca) and other retailers (Horchow) sell the cookies on-line. The cookie tins contain 20 – 36 cookies and are priced from $18 – $35 although there are large tins that contain 52 – 96 cookies for approximately $46 – $65.

Yoku Moku
http://www.yokumoku.com/

Cream butter and sugar then add eggs and vanilla

Incorporate the hazelnuts into the cookie dough by hand

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 20-30 minutes before rolling out

Cut out dough (I used a 2" circle cutter) and bake for 9 minutes at 350 degrees

Spread Nutella on the back of cooled cookies and place another cookie on top to make a sandwich

Heat up 1/2 cup or so of Nutella in the microwave and pour into a small ziplock bag (it's really useful to put the bag in a mason jar first)

Cut the tip off the corner of the bag to create a mini piping bag

Drizzle over each sandwich cookie

Hazelnut and Nutella Sandwich Cookies

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 eggs

3 cups flour

½ tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup hazelnuts, finely ground and toasted

Pre-heat oven to 350° F.  Using a food processor finely chop the hazelnuts and toast them in a dry skillet for a few minutes until fragrant and light brown in color.  Set aside.  In a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar then add vanilla and eggs until nice and smooth.  Slowly add in baking powder and flour mixture until well incorporated.  Stir in hazelnuts by hand and wrap the dough in plastic wrap to refrigerate for about 20-30 minutes.

Take out chilled dough and roll out to about 1/4″ or slightly thinner.  Cut out circles using a 2 inch biscuit or cookie cutter.  Bake for about 9 minutes and cool on a cooling rack.

Spread a generous amount (about 1 1/2 to 2 tsp) Nutella on the back of the cookie and place another cookie on top making a little sandwich.  When all the cookies are paired up ~ yields about 30.  Take about 1/2 cup of nutella and microwave for 25 seconds and place in a small ziplock bag.  Cut a corner of the ziplock bag off to create a tip and drizzle warm nutella over each cookie in whatever pattern you choose.  Cool in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes and serve.  You can store the cookies in an airtight container, make sure to separate layers with wax or  parchment paper.

Lark Fine Foods is based out of Essex, Massachusetts , a small town north of Boston and close to Gloucester.  Mother and daughter team – Mary Ann McCormick and Nicole Nordensved own and manage the company that now produces ten types of cookies. Each cookie is unique with a strong base (i.e. chocolate, butter, oat, or ginger) that is enhanced with complementary spices and flavors (i.e. chili, coconut, rum, cranberries, corn, lemon, raisins, fennel,rosemary, and black olives):

• Cha-Chas: A crunchy rich dark chocolate cookie with a hint of spiciness.
• Cocolocos: A crunchy butter cookie with coconut and a hint of rum.
• Lady Birds: A whole wheat oat cookie with cranberries and bittersweet chocolate.
• Mighty Gingers: A chewy ginger infused cookie.
• Polenta Pennies: A butter cookie flavored with corn, lemon, and raisins.
• Salted Rosemary Shortbread: A crisp butter cookie laced with rosemary and sea salt.
• Burnt Sugar Shortbread:  A butter cookie flavored with fennel and burnt sugar.
• Espresso Chip Shortbread: A butter cookie flavored with coffee and espresso chips.
• Scourtins: A butter cookie with black olives that seems more like a rich thick delicious cracker.
• Russian Tea Cakes: A rich, buttery cookie covered in confectionary sugar.

Each cookie is delicious but my favorites are the Cha-Chas (pictured at right), Cocolocos, Scourtins, and the Polenta Pennies. The cookies come beautifully packaged in 6.0 to 7.5 ounce boxes (depending on the cookie) that sell for $6.  There are also trio boxes, snack size boxes and special larger packaging for the Russian Tea Cookies.  The cookies can be ordered through the company’s website or purchased at fine retailers across the country (see the website for a complete list of retailers by state).

Lark Fine Foods
8 Scot’s Way
Essex, MA 01929
978-768-0012
www.larkfinefoods.com

The Sugar cookie recipe is one of my old standbys.  It’s delicious and works great.  The Royal Icing is also an old recipe that’s been around for a long time and is very versatile.  If it’s too stiff, add a little water, if it is too runny add a little more powdered sugar, darn near idiot proof.   What I really had to learn was all about decorating.  I’m a little embarrassed to post my efforts since they are so amateurish but at least they’re colorful!  Happy Easter everyone!

Cream butter, sugar and flavorings

Add flour slowly so you don't turn into the abominable snowman

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before use, instead of using flour use powdered sugar to roll out, this keeps the dough from getting tough.

Essential Royal icing ingredients...meringue powder and powdered sugar

Mix royal icing for at least 7 minutes to get the nice glossy soft peaks

Line edges of cookies with a thin line of royal icing in the color that you wish to have the cookie surface to be (this creates a little dam), the smoother your piping job the nicer the end product...as you can see I had issues

Using a squeeze bottle "flood" the cookie with watered down royal icing, use a toothpick to get to all the corners.

Before putting the watered down icing in the squeeze bottle be sure to get all the air bubbles out by letting it sit for a little while, this way you get a smoother surface.

When piping the royal icing make sure the consistency is smooth (add a little water and mix well) so it flows smoother

I know they are amateur efforts, but at least I know they taste good!

Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 eggs

3 cups flour

½ tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp almond extract

Pre-heat oven to 350^o  In a large mixing bowl cream butter, sugar and flavorings together.  Add in eggs and mix well.  In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt.   Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into the creamed butter mixture until everything is well incorporated.  Divide dough into two balls, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.  This makes the dough easier to roll out.  When ready to roll out dough, dust the dough with powdered sugar so it won’t stick to the rolling-pin.  This allows the dough to keep its integrity without adding any more flour. Cut out desired shapes and bake for about 9-12 minutes depending on oven.  It should be light golden color, if you want it crisper, bake it the full 12 minutes.

 Royal Icing:

4 cups sugar

2 tablespoon Meringue powder

5 tbsp water

Gel based food coloring (this is a must, it is true color and doesn’t alter taste)

If meringue powder is not available(you can buy them at any bakery or restaurant supply store) then 2 egg whites can be used in its place.  To make sure that it is safe to eat it has to be tempered over a double boiler.

Mix meringue powder and sugar together and add the water.  Use an electric mixer on low-speed and mix for 7-10 minutes until icing is nice and glossy and soft peaks form.  If using a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment and let it mix for about 7-10 minutes.  Put it in an air tight container until ready to use.

Cream brown sugar and butter then add the egg

Add in toasted hazelnuts and mini chocolate chips by hand

Drop by scoopfuls onto a cookie sheet (I use silpat to line my baking pans) and bake for 8 minutes at 375 degrees

Melt some chocolate chips with a little bit of vegetable oil in a double broiler (basically a heat safe bowl on a pan with some water in it)

Dip the bottom of the cookies in the melted chocolate

They are truly decadent

Here’s the recipe:

Chocolate-dipped Hazelnut and Chocolate Chip Tea Cookies

1 stick of butter (1/4 pound or 8 tablespoons), softened

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup AP flour

1 cup finely chopped Hazelnuts (toasting them really helps with the flavor)

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (for melting and dipping)

1 tsp vegetable oil

In a food processor finely chop Hazelnuts to yield one cup.  Put in a microwave safe plate or dish and microwave for 1-2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds or so until nicely toasted.  This intensifies the hazelnut flavor.

Cream the butter and the sugar together.  Add in egg, salt, soda and incorporate well.  Slowly add in the flour and mix well. Hand stir in the toasted hazelnuts and mini chocolate chips to the batter and drop by scoopfuls on to a Silpat lined or Parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake for about 8 minutes at 375 degrees.  Cool on a cooling rack.

In a heat safe bowl melt semi sweet chocolate chips with the vegetable oil over a double broiler (basically another pan with 1 1/2 inches of water in it that is heated up so the steam melts the chocolate, this is safer for the chocolate so it doesn’t burn, make the sure the bottom of the pan does not touch the water).  When chocolate is melted place each cookie bottom side down in the chocolate to coat it well.  Place the cookie on a cooling rack with the chocolate side up.  When all the cookies are coated place them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes for the chocolate to harden.  Serve with hot tea or coffee.

Ingredients at a glance

Cream the butter and add the herbs, garlic and cheeses

Roll the dough into a log and wrap with plastic wrap - refrigerate at least 30 minutes

Slice refrigerated dough into 1/8 inch slices

Place about 1 inch apart on a parchment or silpat lined pan

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees

Here’s the recipe:

Gluten-free Goat Cheese Garlic and Cheddar Herb Crackers

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1/3 cup of goat cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1  tsp dried dill

1 tsp dried thyme

1 whole clove garlic, pressed through garlic press

1 cup rice flour

1/4 cup chickpea flour (Besan)

1-2 tsp water (use only if the dough is not coming together)

In a medium-sized bowl cream butter with an electric mixer.  Add in herbs, garlic and cheese and continue mixing until well incorporated.  Slowly add in both the chickpea and the rice flour, add the water if needed for the dough to come together.  I did not add any salt to this recipe since goat cheese is pretty salty.  You can add some kosher salt to taste if you’d prefer. Roll into about a 9″ log and wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  When ready to bake, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and cut the log into 1/8 to 3/8 inch rounds with a sharp knife.  Place on a parchment or silpat  lined cookie sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on a cooling rack before serving.  Makes about 24-28 crackers but you can tell others it only makes 6 (which is what I had to do because I ate most of them myself)

Effie’s Homemade makes all natural oatcakes that remind me of the ones I used to eat decades ago.  Made in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, Effie’s Homemade Oatcakes contain wheat flour, oats, unsalted butter, sugar, water, palm oil, salt and baking soda.  The founders of the company – Joan MacIsaac and Irene Costello realized that “great flavor comes from quality ingredients, simply prepared.” They were inspired by Effie MacLellan, MacIsaac’s mother who was handed down the recipe from her mother in Nova Scotia.  Founded in 2007, the company set out to rekindle old-fashioned oatcakes along with other delicious, natural, and wholesome baked goods.

Today, Effie’s Homemade makes three types of “cakes:”

All Natural Oatcakes:  The versatile “cookie” that started it all.  Delicious with a cup of coffee or tea or with a selection of cheeses, the oatcakes have a buttery oat flavor and are not too sweet.

Crispy Corncakes: Introduced in 2009, the crispy corncake is not as sweet as the oatcake. Made of flour, butter, cornmeal,sugar, masa (ground corn kernels and lime), anise seed, salt, and baking soda, these “cakes” are a great mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Pecan Nutcakes: These “cakes” have a nutty toasted pecan flavor that have been slightly sweetened with brown sugar and honey.  Delicious plain or with cheese, pecan nutcakes are rich and delicious.

Effie’s Homemade products are available throughout the United States in more than 750 gourmet shops, cheese stores, and many Whole Foods and Fresh Market stores. To find the nearest store, refer to the company website that provides a list of stores by state or order the cakes on-line, also through the company website listed below. Each 7.2 ounce bag sells for approximately $6.

Effie’s Homemade
One Westinghouse Plaza
Hyde Park, MA  02136
617-364-9300
www.effieshomemade.com

Ingredients at a glance

Rub together the minced Thyme and Rosemary with the Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to release flavors

Cream the butter

Add the herbs and salt mixture along with the shredded Edam

After adding the flour and about a tablespoon of water a soft dough should form

Roll into a log and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes

Slice dough into about 1/4 inch thickness

Bake at 350 degrees for 22 minutes

Thyme and Rosemary Edam Crackers

It was awesome with some fresh salad.

Here’s the recipe:

Thyme and Rosemary Edam Crackers

1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup shredded Edam cheese

1 tsp fresh Thyme, minced

1/2 tsp fresh Rosemary, minced

1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

1 tablespoon water (may take a little less or more)

1 1/4 cup flour

Mix together Rosemary and Thyme with the salt and pepper and rub it together to release the flavors.  Set aside.  In a mixing bowl cream the butter until smooth and add the cheese and the herb mixture.  Slowly add in flour and keep mixing at low speed.  If necessary use the tablespoon of water (may take a little more or less depending on the humidity) to make the dough come together.  Take out of the bowl and roll into a 9 inch log.  Wrap the log with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or Silpat liner.  Using a very sharp knife cut the log into 1/4 or 3/8 inch slices.  Place on the prepared cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-22 minutes.  They should be a beautiful golden brown color.  Cool and enjoy as an appetizer or with any kind of salad.  They are wonderful with some D’Anjou pears sliced thinly on top as well.  Makes about 28 crackers.

Eleni’s New York is the brainchild of Eleni Gianopulos who opened in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market in 1997. The cookies were a raging success and within a few years, Eleni added an Upper East Side location on Madison Avenue along with a website that has a serious wow factor.  Eleni’s base confection is a sugar cookie that looks like a museum quality piece of art but tastes even better than it looks.  Each cookie is hand-made with all natural high-quality ingredients (flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, meringue powder, and spices) and iced by hand.  For Easter, Eleni offers a wide variety of cookie collections destined to make your child’s Easter basket simply scrumptious.

Most kids love to decorate cookies and Eleni’s offers a “Color Your Own Easter Sunday” gift box that contains 20 iced sugar cookies in various shapes (bunny rabbits, eggs, and chicks) with a 5-pack of edible ink markers for $48.50 or “Color Your Own Eggs,” a gift box of 20 iced sugar cookies shaped like eggs with a 5-pack of edible ink markers for $42.50. Each sugar cookie is covered in white icing ready for decoration. For those that don’t want to decorate their own Easter cookies, Eleni’s offers nine gift boxes of cookies with names like “Sweet Hatchlings” or “Spring Flurry” which vary in quantity, shapes, and size:  11-20 cookies for $48-$72 plus shipping.

Eleni’s also offers cookie gift collections for virtually every holiday (Passover, July 4th, Christmas, Halloween), special occasion (birthday, wedding, thank you, new baby, congratulations) and theme (love, sports, fashion, animals, flowers) including the 2012 Presidential Election, as pictured left and the Final Four.  Custom orders can be made by calling the “cookie concierge” (what a great title) at the number listed below.  In addition, Eleni’s makes cupcakes and offers a whole selection of other types of cookies in their “Crisp Collection” that includes Beyond Butterscotch, Chocolate Chip, Ginger Snappy, Pink Sugar, and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. But, the ultimate cookie or cupcake gift may be the collection with an edible image of that special someone.

Eleni’s New York:  Chelsea Market Store
75 9th Avenue
New York, New York 10011

Eleni’s New York
1266 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10128
1-888-435-3647
http://elenis.com/

Raincoast Crisps come in six flavors:

• Original Raincoast Crisps: a cracker with toasted nut flavor  a hint of spices;
• Rosemary Raisin Pecan Raincoast Crisps: a cracker with toasted pecans, rosemary, and raisins;
• Cranberry Hazelnut Raincoast Crisps: a scrumptious cracker (my favorite) filled with toasted hazelnuts and dried cranberries;
• Fig and Olive Raincoast Crisps:  a delicious cracker that has the salty taste of olives combined with sweet figs;
• Salty Date and Almond Raincoast Crisps: a less sweet cracker with dates, almonds, and a sprinkle of sea salt;
• Cinnamon Raisin Raincoast Crisps: a sweeter cracker laced with cinnamon and raisins and the only Raincoast Crisp that is only available in Canada.

Lesley Stowe started her own catering company in Vancouver, Canada after being trained as a chef in Paris. Capitalizing on the success of her catering business, Stowe opened up a fine food store which led to realizing the market was in need of a cracker beyond the typical bland white vehicle used to complement cheese selections.  The Raincoast Crisp was born with each possessing its own flavor personality to complement various types of cheese.

The Cranberry Hazelnut Raincoast Crisp is the perfect accompaniment to Comte or Brie and the Rosemary Hazelnut Raincoast Crisp paired with La Tur, a creamy soft cheese from Italy that is sold in most cheese shops, is sublime. And, the Fig and Olive Raincoast Crisp with a slice of Spanish Manchego cheese  is the tapa of tapas. Once a cheese is paired with a Raincoast Crisp, there is no going back to cheese on a plain cracker without feeling like something is missing.

The crackers are available at Whole Foods – in the cheese section – which is where I first discovered them and other fine retailers that are listed on the company website.

Lesley Stowe Fine Foods
100-13955 Bridgeport Road
Richmond, BC V6V 1J6
604-731-3666
lesleystowe.com

Enter Amy Berg – cookie maker extraordinaire:  that rare baker whose baking skills, love of sweets, and appreciation for beautiful sweets all come together in her cookie creations. The first time I tasted a cookie made by Amy was in the Dean and Deluca store in Soho. Hungry for a late afternoon snack, I stopped in and noticed these beautiful small crescent cookies perfectly lined up on a tray in a display window. I purchased a half pound of “Viennese Crescents” which our small group devoured by the time we walked one block. A buttery cookie with a delicate crumb, this Viennese Crescent had a faint taste of almonds and was dusted with a very light cinnamon sugar.  All I could think about was getting more as there is nothing more perfect with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon than a Viennese Crescent from Amy’s Cookies.

The cookies are sold in a variety of gourmet shops throughout New York City but they can also be ordered on-line through Amy’s website.  The cookies are $18 for two dozen cookies and come beautifully wrapped in a box with a grosgrain ribbon. Amy’s Cookies also sells more than 30 varieties of other cookies including pecan butterball, thumbprints (raspberry or apricot), chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, key lime sandwiches, and more. There is also a selection of bars, brownies, and decorated sugar cookies.

Amy’s Cookies
225 34th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11232
718-797-1513
www.amyscookies.com

Levain Bakery is located on the Upper West Side in New York City. Founded 18 years ago by Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, Levain Bakery has a loyal following thanks to their artisan breads, cakes, scones, muffins, tarts, and cookies. According to the bakery website, the owners were training together for an Ironman competition, working day jobs, and making wholesale artisanal breads for restaurants in New York City when they “began a passionate dialog about creating the worlds’s greatest chocolate chip cookie.” The requirements: crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside and packed with semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts. Levain Bakery and their famous chocolate chip walnut cookie were born and they haven’t looked back since. A second storefront opened in Harlem and a seasonal store is open in the Hamptons.

The cookies are made fresh daily on-site.  The chocolate chip walnut cookie is the bakery’s signature cookie and really is “huge, thick, gooey but crisp on the outside.” For those of us not within walking distance of Levain Bakery, the cookies can be ordered on-line.  The cookies come in 4 ($22) , 8 ($44), and 12 ($66) count quantities and are wrapped in a clear plastic bag with a dark blue sheer bow, placed in a tissue-filled gift box, and finished with another blue bow . At $5.50 per cookie plus shipping, these are not cookies you want to share with the kids; better to enjoy them yourself or send as a decadent gift. At a whopping 6 ounces each, Levain Bakery’s chocolate chip walnut cookie is a meal for those that prefer to eat dessert first.

Levain Bakery
167 West 74th Street
New York City, New York 10023
212-874-6080
1-877-453-8246
http://www.levainbakery.com

Levain Bakery
2167 Ferderick Douglass Boulevard
New York, New York 10026
646-455-0952

Levain Bakery
Wainscott Village Shopping Center
354 Montauk Highway
Wainscott, New York 11975
631-537-8570

Years ago, I would drive to a hole in the wall place called the Middle East Bakery and Grocery Store on Fifth Street in downtown West Palm Beach to buy Gold’n Krackle - crispy flatbread that looked like whole and broken pieces of pita bread that had been baked to a crunchy cracker texture. Gold’n Krackle is made in seven flavors:

Great to just snack on or to serve with hummus or any dip, Gold’n Krackle was this hometown secret cracker made by the local Lebanese grocery store. Surprisingly low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium, these crackers are delicious.  The cheese, cheese and oregano, and the cinnamon and sugar flavors taste great on their own while the hot & spicy, garlic, and onion are perfect with a mild dip. And, the plain are the perfect accompaniment with a spicy full flavored dip that just needs a crunchy transport.

There are certain foods – usually sweets – that we buy or receive once a year around the holidays that lend nostalgia to the season (and a few inches to the waistline).  In our home, we usually kick off the season in mid November with the purchase of a sweet Italian cake called Pandoro that my daughter sprinkles confectionary sugar over.

Sweet, airy, and buttery tasting, a pandoro or panettone (pandoro with dried fruit)  has the texture of an egg bread but the flavor of a cake.  Delicious with sliced berries, sprinkled with confectionary sugar, or just plain, we first discovered pandoro while living in Spain and can’t imagine the holidays without indulging in these Italian treat.

Pandoro or Panettone

In the summer of 2010, Eataly, a 50,000 square foot Italian marketplace opened up at 200 Fifth Avenue between 23rd and 24th Street in New York City and has been described as both a foodie and non-foodie paradise.  For those that can’t get to New York City but want an Italian pandoro or panettone, go to the store’s website: eatalyny.com.  Click on “SHOP”  and then “GIFT BOXES” and a selection of the holiday sweet breads pops up.

Eataly has a pandoro (pictured left) and a panettone (a pandoro with dried fruits and nuts), as illustrated above. Prices are $19.80 per cake (700 grams or 1 pound, 8 ounces) plus shipping.

Williams Sonoma also sells a variation” of the panettone with glazed chestnuts (as illustrated below) that is excellent. Made by a “pasticceria” called “Scarpato” from Milan, Italy, the panettone is light and airy despite its large size.  Each cake comes in a decorated tin to prevent the cake from being crushed during shipping. Simply remove from the tin, unwrap, place on a cake plate, sprinkle with confectionary sugar (packed enclosed), and serve. The best way to cut these cakes is with a bread knife.

The cake (1000 grams or 2 pounds, 3 ounces) is $39.95 plus shipping.  Order on-line at www.williams-sonoma.com

Almond Toffee

Every year, we receive a box of Enstrom’s Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee from my husband’s Aunt Mary and if the box doesn’t arrive my mid-December, everyone is asking where the almond toffee is.  Enstrom’s is a family owned business based out of Grand Junction, Colorado that has been operating for more than 80 years producing their signature product: milk chocolate almond toffee made with five ingredients: almonds, butter, sugar, milk chocolate, and salt. The toffee is a simple, old-fashioned delicious treat that we never tire of. When the box is empty and there are only fine crumbs in the bottom, sprinkle over ice cream for a final “au revoir.”

The almond toffee is sold in a variety of sizes and boxes. A one pound box is $19.95 plus shipping. Order on-line at www.enstrom.com.

Candy Canes

The holidays aren’t the holidays without candy canes and my favorite are made by a company called Hammond’s.
Hammond’s makes traditional candy canes in peppermint flavor but also makes the canes in cinnamon, cherry, root beer, cranberry, pomegranate, butterscotch, and more.

Each candy cane is $2.75 each or 12 for $30 plus shipping. Hammond’s also makes Hanukkah candies which can be ordered through the website listed below.  If traveling in the Denver area, consider taking a free tour of the candy making operation.  The tours run every half hour, Monday – Friday from 9:00 – 3:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 – 3:00.

Hammond’s Candies

5735 North Washington Street

Denver, Colorado 80216

888-226-3999

www.hammondscandies.com

Peppermint Ribbon

When my daughter was little, the only candy she would eat was peppermints so I used to take a hammer out and smash the thick round red and white disks into tiny pieces so she wouldn’t choke. Then, I discovered peppermint ribbons – very thin strips of peppermint candy that break easily. Even though my daughter outgrew peppermint (and went on to chocolate, finally), I continued to order the ribbons because the broken pieces make for great toppings on cookies or homemade peppermint bark.  

The F.B. Washburn Candy Corporation of Massachusetts has been making peppermint and other flavored candy ribbon for more than 150 years. The candy is widely available across the United States at most retailers or order on-line from www.ribboncandyman.com. The Thin Peppermint Ribbon Candy is $14 for three 4-ounce boxes, shipping and handling included. The regular ribbon candy is $21 for six 7-ounce boxes, shipping and handling included.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Years ago, my friend, Julia and I discovered the Chocolate Peppermint Bark at Williams-Sonoma.  We sat down one day and ate most of the box while watching our kids play and we definitely had more fun than they did.

The bark is only available during the holiday season. Each tin has one pound of peppermint bark and retails for $26.95 or two tins for $46.00.  The bark is also sold in individually wrapped 1.2 ounce packets (4)  that sell for $10.00 at www.williams-sonoma.com.

Gingerbread Cookies

Amy’s Cookies out of Brooklyn, New York makes fabulous cookies and during the holiday season, this star cookie maker produces gingerbread men - 24 cookies, 6 of which are decorated so the other 18 cookies can be decorated at home with your own icing.  The 24 cookies arrive in a beautiful box tied with a grosgrain ribbon. Each box is $40 plus shipping and can be ordered on-line at www.amyscookies.com.

Amy’s Cookies also sells other holiday assortments (see photo, upper left) that include a variety of decorated cookies. See the website for other holiday gift sets and cookies – especially the Viennese Crescents.

Polvorones

Polvorones are Spain’s version of shortbread - but with a hint of cinnamon and a bit more crumbly. Individually wrapped like a piece of salt water taffy, polvorones derive from the word “polor” which means powder and are made from almonds, shortening, sugar, salt, lemon, and usually cinnamon although there are many varieties.

Polvorones are traditional holiday almond cookies made in Spain - primarily in the southern part of the country where almonds are abundant.  The cookies can be purchased on-line at www.latienda.com.  Each box contains about 20 individually wrapped cookies and sells for $20 – $22 plus shipping.

Fruitcake

Most people will question why the most dreaded holiday gift is included here as there are more jokes about fruitcake than any other holiday sweet. I used to wonder why America got stuck with the fruitcake when Italy got the panettone, Spain the polvorone or Pan de los Reyes (Bread of the Kings – a rich coffee cake ring that melts in your mouth and can only be purchased fresh to enjoy properly), and France has La Buche de Noel (the chocolate and chestnut cake shaped like a log).  As a young adult, I thought America got the short end of the stick on holiday desserts.

Fruitcake is one of those holiday treats that one may (or may not) acquire a taste for unless your first taste of a fruitcake is from a mix that King Arthur Flour of Norwich, Vermont (www.kingarthurflour.com)sells.

King Arthur Flour sells a basic mix for $5.95 that requires the addition of butter, eggs, light corn syrup, milk and the dried fruit and nuts of your choice to make two cakes. Or, a complete fruitcake mix is available that includes the dried fruit (apricot and pineapple chunks, golden raisins, cranberries, and dates) and candied cherries.  The complete kit sells for $19.95 and makes 2 loaves. If you’ve never tasted a good fruitcake, King Arthur Fruit Cake will change your mind - it did mine. The cake is moist, buttery, and delicious without the offensive bright green alien fruit.  And, when you finish that last bite, you won’t think that America got the short end of the stick on holiday desserts.

Popcorn

We’ve all seen those theme-inspired canisters overflowing with iridescent colored popcorn that tastes even worse than it looks.  Garrett’s Popcorn is differentt. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Garrett’s Popcorn has been making incredible tasting popcorn since 1949.  Try the cheddar cheese, almond caramelcrisp, or the pecan caramelcrisp: all three are positively addicting. Garrett Popcorn stores (9) are located throughout Chicago and even at O’Hare Airport but can also be purchased on-line in 1, 2, 3.5, or 6.5 gallon tins from $26 and up plus shipping.

Garrett’s Popcorn

1-888-476-72.67

www.garrettpopcorn.com

The growth in internet sites has brought the world of food into homes.  Years ago, new and unusual foods were acquired by traveling to faraway places. Today, people still travel to eat but with the world becoming global, international and national foods can be ordered on-line and delivered to our doorstep within days. Special ingredients not readily available at the local grocery store can also be obtained at various websites.  The choices are unlimited but here are a few favorite sources:

www.murrayscheese.com:  Murray’s Cheese is based out of New York City and offers awide variety of American and European cheeses along with dried and cured meats, crackers, breads, and jams.  Cheese can be selected in quarter pound increments with your selections packed in an insulated container on ice and mailed overnight. Shipping charges are very reasonable.

My personal favorites are Parmesan from Italy, Comte from France, Gruyere from Switzerland, and Drunken Goat and Manchego from Spain. When I feel adventurous or have guests coming to dinner, I select a variety of soft and hard cheeses, which make for a great dessert with sliced pears, grapes, and hazelnut cranberry studded “Raincoast Crisps” (available through  www.amazon.com or at a local Whole Foods store).

DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS

www.meduriworlddelights.com:  If you’re a fan of dried fruits without sulfates, this is the website for you. The selection includes dried cherries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, grapefruit, apples, and more. Instead of using sulfur to preserve the fruit, the company relies on sugar, citric acid, and in some fruits, sunflower oil. Put the fruits on oatmeal, in granola or carry them in a bag for a sweet snack on a hike.

www.nutsonline.com Nuts on Line is my go to site when I need nuts for baking.  The company typically ships the day I place the order and the nuts are delivered within two days.  I rely on this website for walnuts, pecans, chia seeds, pine nuts, and extra large golden raisins, which are my husband’s favorite.  Based out of New York City and run by the same family for three generations, their prices and quick service are hard to beat.

www.koeze.com: Koeze has the most delicious roasted cashews, pecans, pistachios, and mixed nuts.  These nuts are for snacking, not baking. Perfectly roasted and not overly salted, these outsized nuts don’t last long in a serving bowl.

COOKIES

www.amyscookies.com I discovered Amy’s Cookies when I was visiting New York City a few years ago. Based out of Brooklyn, Amy sells her cookies in her own storefront at 225 34th Street – but also sells her cookies to a variety of gourmet shops in NYC and on-line for fans like me who don’t have a Dean and Deluca around the corner.  Her Viennese Crescents are my favorite: rich buttery almond cookies that melt in your mouth.  She also sells a variety of other cookies including chocolate chip, sandwich, and tea cookies.

The cookies arrive in perfect condition and are beautifully wrapped in a colorful box with a grosgrain ribbon. Great for gifts.

www.elenis.com:  Decorated cookies generally don’t taste as good as they look but Eleni’s Cookies taste even better than they look. I discovered the themed sugar cookies in a small gift store in Palm Beach several years ago. I bought several beautifully decorated Easter cookies in the shape of bunnies and eggs to put in my daughter’s Easter basket.  When my daughter opened one, I took a bite and couldn’t believe how good the cookie tasted and I’ve been a committed fan ever since.

Eleni’s has a variety of theme cookie (flowers, animals, toys, sports, etc) gift boxes  which are always a nice gift for birthdays and other special occasions.

ICE CREAM

www.graeters.com:  Graeters of Cincinnati makes rich, creamy ice cream and can send their pints virtually anywhere.  Choose up to 6 pints (or more) from among their more than 20 flavors and the company will ship the ice cream on dry ice to arrive on your doorstep frozen.

BAKING SUPPLIES

www.kingarthurflour.com:  King Arthur Flour is based out of Norwich, Vermont and is a destination spot for the baker.  The company has a store dedicated to baking with a small restaurant and a separate building for baking classes.

The website is for the baker that can’t get to the store but wants top quality baking ingredients, appliances, and gadgets.  Famous for their flour, the company has established distribution to most grocery stores so I don’t rely on the website for flour so much as all the other special ingredients to make cookies, breads, pizza, cakes, and pies.  They have a product called “Pie Enhancer” which is a blend of sugar, modified food starch and a few other ingredients that keep summer fruit pies from turning into soupy desserts.

I am a huge fan of their colorful sugar sprinkles and hard-to-find products like almond flour and whole dried milk for making bread. I rely on several King Arthur mixes when in a hurry:  pizza crust, lemon bundt cake, scones, and lava cakes – all of which are simply delicious.  King Arthur also has a great selection of unique baking appliances and utensils.

CHOCOLATE AND CANDY

www.nantucketchocolatier.com:  Nantucket Chocolatier is known for their chocolate covered cranberries. Order during the non-summer months to avoid the high shipping costs or better yet, visit Nantucket in the summer where you can eat them fresh and save the ordering for the other three seasons.

www.lamaisonduchocolat.com:  Chocolate covered almonds – dark and milk – are my favorite product from this French chocolatier that has several stores in New York City. Beautifully packaged but even better tasting, I keep a bowl of these on my desk and eat them by the handful. The assorted chocolates are excellent and are packed in a beautiful brown box with a ribbon.

www.chocolopolis.com:  If you are looking for really good dark chocolate, this site offers a variety of choices from North and South America, Africa, and Asia.  My favorites are the dark chocolate bars made by Claudio Coello, which are not always available. If in stock, order promptly.

When out of stock, there is a store in Seattle, Washington called “Marie and Freres” (www.marieandfreres.com) who always has the bars (as pictured in the feature photo at the top of the page) in stock. Unfortunately, the website isn’t set up to take internet sales so call the store (206-859-3534) to place an order.

www.chocosphere.com:  Chocosphere sells a wide variety of European chocolates including Valrhona, Callebaut, and Michel Cluizel.  This website carries hard to find small individually wrapped chocolate bars that can be served after dinner with coffee or when you just want a small piece of chocolate. In addition, they carry the best chocolate sprinkles made from real cocoa with no artificial additives. Made by Cacao-Berry (a French company owned by Callebaut), the chocolate “vermicelles” are sold in a kilogram (2.2 pounds or 35 ounces) box for $17.95 plus shipping.

www.fionassweetshoppe.com:  Fiona’s Sweet Shoppe is a tiny little store in San Francisco that was opened by a doctor who missed her favorite European candies.  I love sending “flying saucers” or assorted jellies to children for birthday presents.

The candy is wrapped beautifully and looks as good as the sweets.

CROISSANTS

www.williams-sonoma.com:  After tasting a real butter croissant in Paris, I could never eat a supermarket or local bakery’s attempt at reproducing such a marvel of perfection.  Then along came Galaxy Desserts and their croissant which they sell only through Williams-Sonoma. 

I keep a box of the plain and the chocolate croissants in my freezer always.  The plain croissants come in two sizes and I order the small size (that actually bakes up quite large) which come 24 to a box for $39 plus shipping (but if you join Williams-Sonoma Reserve Club for approximately $30 a year, shipping is free on almost all of the products sold on line).  The chocolate croissants come in only one size – 15 to a box - and are a decadent treat for breakfast.

The croissants arrive frozen and should be placed in the freezer promptly. The night before serving them, take the croissants out of the freezer and place them on a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper over them.  Nine hours later the croissants have thawed and risen. Remove the parchment paper and bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes and enjoy with butter, jam and a good cup of coffee.

SPANISH FOODS

www.tienda.com:  Four years of living in Madrid, Spain consummated my love of Spanish foods and this website has a very good selection.  Raw blanched marcona almonds are a staple in my pantry as I prefer to saute these precious nuts in olive oil and then lightly salt them before serving them to guests, who never fail to devour them and ask what they are (as they don’t look like California grown almonds).

Rounder and flatter than almonds grown in California, marcona almonds are grown in the south of Spain. Recently, I have found marcona almonds in grocery stores but I have always put them back on the shelf after reading the label and discovering they were fried or baked in a canola, vegetable or sunflower oil.  The combination of marcona almonds, olive oil, and salt is one of those Spanish creations that shouldn’t be tweaked.  I also use this website to buy olives, potato chips, and polverones (a shortbread cookie popular around the holidays) imported from Spain.

www.spanishtable.com:  The Spanish Table has stores in New Mexico, Washington, and California.  They carry a full line of imported Spanish foods and cookware. I rely on them for “Ortiz Bonito Del Norte Bonito” tuna (which will forever turn you away from supermarket cans of tuna) and Jamon Iberico de Bellota - Spanish ham   – which is shaved and vacuum packed.  This website is also a great source for cazuelas - the shallow stone bakeware often used in Spanish cooking.

MEATS

www.laquercia.us:  La Quercia is an Iowa based pig farm that produces delicious pancetta, which I use to add flavor to homemade hearty winter soups. I used to call them directly because they are just so nice and accommodating when I want to place an order.  I always revel in the fact that I am speaking to a real live person who makes me feel that I am the most important customer they have.

www.allenbrothers.com:  Allen Brothers is a Chicago based butcher and is one of 3 websites I use to order meat. I rely on this website for extra thick lamb chops that my husband loves. In addition, I buy their bison burgers, regular hamburgers, chicken breasts, and turkeys.

www.lobels.com:  Lobels is a small butcher shop on the upper east side in New York City that provides excellent cuts of meat either on site, by delivery, or through on-line sales.  Their prices are high but you are guaranteed the most tender cuts of meat and great customer service. Their pork chops are so tender, you can almost forgo a knife.

DESSERTS:

www.galaxydesserts.com:  Galaxy Desserts makes beautiful and elegant desserts that are typically found in a restaurant that doesn’t employ a pastry chef.  I keep a variety of their products in my freezer for those times when something special is needed. Their tart selection, lava cakes, and small cheesecakes are delicious and simply need a sauce or fresh berries before serving. But the pineapple upside down cake is my favorite.

OLIVE OIL

www.peppermints.com:  This is one website where you would never expect to find an award-winning olive oil - Columela olive oil.  Years ago, “Cooks Illustrated” introduced me to Columela olive oil and I’ve been a devoted consumer ever since.  At times difficult to find, I would often go to www.amazon.com  and be “sent” to this supplier to purchase the olive oil. More recently, I have started to see Columela olive oil in some grocery stores in the northeast but I still rely on this website to make sure I always have adequate supplies on hand.

TEA

www.teaforte.com: I discovered tea while living in Madrid, Spain about 10 years ago.  Down the block from our apartment was a tiny, tiny store that had floor to ceiling canisters of tea that reminded me of the wand store in a Harry Potter movie with the special ladders for the hard to reach canisters.  Every few weeks I would go to the tea store and invariably wait outside as no more than 3 people could fit in the store at a time.  When it was my turn, I would purchase my favorite chamomile and ask the tea master to pick a new tea for me to try. I became so spoiled that when I returned to the US, I could never buy a box of tea bags again.

Years went by and then I received a gift of tea bags that were made by a company called “Tea Forte.” The tin contained Egyptian like pyramid cones that enclose individual tea bags.   Someone with a great sense of design came up with this unique packaging. The big surprise was the taste. These teas are as smooth as they are beautiful in presentation and that satisfies my sense of aesthetics. The company also sells cookies and their orange spice tea cookies are delicious and remind me of British tea biscuits.

PULLED PORK STARTER

I was never a pulled pork fan but my husband loves pulled pork with fresh cole slaw on a potato roll.  One day while in Williams-Sonoma I noticed a 26 ounce jar of “Pulled Pork Starter” under the company name and decided to try it in my slow cooker. I don’t normally buy pre-made sauces but something compelled me to buy this jar. The product is excellent and one jar makes 4-7 pounds of pulled pork depending on how saucy you want the meat.

JAMS

Years ago while visiting New York City, I had breakfast at a wonderful restaurant called Sarabeth’s on the upper east side.  Sarabeth’s has 8 locations now and sell their incredible jams in their stores, on their website:  www.sarabeth.com and at Williams-Sonoma and Stew Leonards in the northeast.  The jams are wonderful - Strawberry Raspberry and Peach Apricot are my family’s favorite.