this and that

This and That December 2006

Mamma Mia
Check out this adorable little book, 50 Great Pasta Sauces by Pamela Sheldon Johns (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 112 pages, $14.95). It contains recipes for 50 authentic Italian pasta dishes, from a simple pesto or roasted tomato sauce to the more unusual red pepper besciamella sauce. Almost all the recipes in this petite book (6 ½-inches square) are photographed, making this collection as good to look at as it is to eat. Put it on your Christmas list. For more gift book ideas, visit our website at www.relishmag.com

Cooking 101
Q. How do you “cream” ingredients?
A. Creaming softened butter and sugar together is the first step in making most cakes and cookies. “Creaming” means beating ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy—which takes at least 1 to 2 minutes. For another great kitchen tip—how to roast chestnuts—visit www.relishmag.com

Chocolate Mice and More
Fruit of the month is nice, but for most of your friends, chocolate probably trumps it. This Christmas let L.A. Burdick’s chocolate mice cause a stir. The artisinal New England chocolatier makes three varieties of mice—dark, milk or white chocolate—each with ears of slivered almonds, silken tails and truffle filling. They’re as adorable as they are delectable and make rapturous stocking-stuffers or gifts for coworkers. For Burdick’s complete selection of gifts, including hot chocolate, chocolate cigars and brownies, go to www.burdickchocolate.com or call (800) 229-2419.