I am a big fan of hostess gifts—flowers, wine or little treats are my favorites to give for casual get togethers.  When invited to someone’s home for more formal meal, a hostess gift is customary.  I never expect them, but am delighted when I receive one.  The point of a gift is to show appreciation for a host’s thoughtfulness and to “give back” an experience that the host can enjoy later.  My favorite things to give are homemade muesli or granola, a book or a plant.  My favorite hostess gift that I have ever received was a drawing made by a 4 year old tucked into a frame.  Of course it is displayed in a place of prominence in my...

Tags: cookies, scones, truffles, Thanksgiving, danish, hostess gifts, wine

Long weekends are great for weddings, especially ones where many guests are traveling.  My sister, Liz, went to a wedding this past weekend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The bride and groom are her neighbors in suburban Washington, DC.  They live just a few doors down from Liz and her husband John, who are newlyweds themselves (and served amazing chocolate peanut butter wedding cake at their beautiful reception). Because she knows that I love anything sweet and chocolaty, Liz sent me an email to share her recent baking project with me.  Her friend, the bride, was planning an elaborate Viennese table at her reception, and Liz volunteered to make some goodies.&nbs...

Tags: cake, wedding, bride, cookie icing, reception, truffles

Different members of my family celebrate different holidays.  Some celebrate Easter and others celebrate Passover.  As you can guess, there is a lot of preparation to do.  Next week I will be writing more about Passover, but today I am focusing on a fun project for kids which is great for Easter and can be modified for any event, such as birthday parties, Valentine’s Day, or even a rainy afternoon when kids are stuck indoors: making candy necklaces. As much fun as holidays can be, they also run the risk of being a bit boring for kids.  Reuniting with family is fun, but without activities to keep kids occupied they can get into some shenani...

Tags: Easter, kids, activities, candy, truffles

Not jewelry, not video game systems, not $100 sweatpants or $200 boots.  The most valuable gift to give is time, since it is a resource that can’t be renewed.  Rather than giving a box of chocolates, set aside time to make Marvelous Chocolate Truffles from Betty Crocker.  Kids can assist by measuring, dropping the mixture in teaspoons, forming balls, and adding nuts and sprinkles.  These truffles will make great gifts, and kids can decorate boxes and make cards for special Valentines (photos of you making the truffles ...

Tags: chocolate, Valentine's Day, truffles