Jan D'Atri

Jan D'Atri > Jan’s Recipes > salt

salt

Stocking Cookies

by

What makes this the most wonderful time of the year? Well, besides, glad tidings, family and the holiday spirit, it’s gotta be Christmas Cookies! Nothing puts a smile on faces like a big platter of goodies decked out and adorned with glitter and glaze! These tri-colored cookies are among my very favorite to bake up, decorate and give as gifts for the holidays. Why do I love these cookies so much? First of all, this basic stocking cookie recipe is just right. With its combination of butter and shortening, you get the great flavor of butter and the shortening makes the cookies soft but still great for decorating. Second, they are so colorful, and that color is achieved in such an easy way! All you do is make one batch of batter and color two parts with green and red! Now you have a pre-decorated cookie that just gets a glaze and a tiny bit of decorating sugar. No fuss. No muss. Just gorgeous and scrumptious cookies that are fa-la-la-la lovely to eat and to share!

Watch my How To Video for Christmas Cookies here!

Jan’s Holiday Bread Wreath

by

This one is personal! I’ve been making my special wreath bread for the holidays ever since I was in high school. I love making it, I love cutting into it (as pretty as it is) and I absolutely love giving it away as a holiday gift from my kitchen. I think I cut the recipe out of a Women’s Day Magazine many, many years ago, and eventually the clipping just disintegrated from overuse. By the time that happened however, I had the recipe embedded in my cooking DNA. The inside of this gorgeous bread wreath is filled with delicious surprises like brown sugar, walnuts, soaked raisins and spices. The outside is a thing of beauty and in my opinion, the perfect holiday wreath to share! Enjoy it as a breakfast bread or a sweet snack anytime!

Rock Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry and Apricot Preserve Glaze

by

The meat department manager at the store knew right where they were.
“Aisle 6, third case down on the left, bottom row.” That’s because even though Rock Cornish Game Hens really only get attention during the holidays, they are generally always there in the frozen food case, just waiting for someone to find a great recipe and then gobble up these delectable little birds. This week I was spending a little time with Julia (Child), reading some of her fun television stories when I stumbled across her account of Unidentified Flying Objects—or small birds. “Eating this meal demands fingers and cooking it demands loving, last-minute attention. The right people to ask to this dinner party (serving Cornish Game Hens) are knowing, sensuous eaters whom you welcome backstage because they understand and enjoy what’s going on there. So dine in the kitchen if you have room.” Doesn’t that just sound like the women we loved to watch on television for decades? Her story made me hunt for one of my favorite recipes for these tasty little one-bird-per-person UFO’s. Cornish Game Hens are all white meat, but they are succulent and have a slight but distinct gamy flavor. This recipe for the roasted hens, served with a wild rice blend (found in most stores and often in the bulk bins) and a sweet and savory glaze, make a perfect weeknight dinner or a fantastic family Sunday supper.
As Julia Child once said, “The best way to execute (French) cooking is to get good and loaded and whack the hell out of a chicken. Bon appétit. ” Well, no need to do that with Rock Cornish Game Hens, but Bon appétit anyway!

Watch my How To Video For Cornish Game Hens here!

Pumpkin Cookies Three Ways

by

There’s something so wonderful about fall baking, and it all seems to kick off with pumpkin season! So here are three of my favorite cookies and bars with pumpkin as the star! Whether it’s for your Thanksgiving dessert table or Christmas cookie exchange, these treats will get you in the holiday spirit in the most delightful way!