01.01.70

For years, my mother-in-law sent us a tin of Christmas fruitcake from a famous Texas bakery. My husband went nuts for the stuff, thin-slicing that ring of joy in hope that it would last till the next year. My thrill came when his mom ditched the fruitcake for frozen gift-packs of Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pizza sent from their homeland — Chicago. This month, in an effort to assuage his jones for fruitcake (the local version), and provide you with options for holiday treats, I offer this sweet road map to Christmas baked goods, rooted in traditions from afar.

Buon Natale, and pass the pannetone, whose leftovers — assuming there are any — make a mean French toast. Seattle’s Italian community has been turning to Borracchini’s Bakery (2307 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, 206-325-1550, www.nowcake.com ) for loaves of that raisin- and citrus-studded sweetbread since the Rainier Valley neighborhood was better known as Garlic Gulch.

Source: The Seattle Times

by McdonnelJuncker931

Chocolate candy is an ideal present or gift to buy someone you love and care about on their birthday. Its a absolute fact that chocolate candy will make a fantastic gift for Mothers day, Valentine’s day, Halloween, and Christmas. So if you are looking for a great gift for a special day, then you need look no further than a box of chocolate candy. It seems that the attractive box is almost as important as the candy contained inside. Isn’t that an amazing and surprising fact?

Packaging will enhance your chocolate candy:

Many individuals who eat chocolate usually like many different sorts, from the cheapest to the more expensive gourmet ones. This is great when it comes to buying a chocolate gift for them, because as long as the wrapping looks good you can go for a less expensive type. You will not have to spend all your money on the gourmet ones, that is unless you want to. Its amazing to find that an Hershey’s Kiss will take some beating for both taste and price....

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by Beth Sweet

Here are some things I learned along the way:

1. Being the kind of gal who owns a candy thermometer has its perks.

2. Fruit Jam Jellies made me think of my time studying in Ireland and all the fabulous candy available in that gorgeous country—and that made me want to eat some chocolate. So, if that kind of thought process happens for you, be prepared with chocolate on hand, my friends.

3. We made both apricot jam jellies and raspberry jam jellies. While the apricot batch is (in my opinion) the most beautiful to look at, I came to the confirmed conclusion that I really only like raspberry jam, thanks. So use a jam flavor that you truly like.

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