Lifestyles
In the kitchen
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File photoA plate of fresh biscochitos, the quintessential New Mexican holiday cookie, is served to local judges at Taos Herb Company's annual biscochito contest.
Bakers vie for Taos biscochito title
It's that delicious time of year, when a group of hard-core Taos bakers gather for one of the most competitive events in the region - the annual biscochito contest at Taos Herb Company. more
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Lucy HerrmanA chile-spiced turkey will give the Thanksgiving meal a decidedly New Mexico flavor. After rubbing with chile spice rub, drape in a butter-soaked cheesecloth, which will keep the turkey moist while baking.
Let's talk turkey
Countdown to Turkey Day has begun. A turkey is one of the most common main courses for many holiday meals. According to the National Turkey Federation, a huge percentage of this country's population -- about 88 percent -- eat turkey for Thanksgiving. Over 52 million turkeys were consumed for Thanksgiving in 2018. Another 22 million were eaten at Christmas and 19 million for Easter. That's a lot of bird! more
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Lucy HerrmanPumpkin Cheesecake is the perfect dessert to finish off a New Mexico flavor Thanksgiving dinner. The great thing about this dessert is that it can be made a day ahead.
Pumpkin Cheesecake: An easy alternative to pie
For some people, Thanksgiving would not be complete without at least one kind of pie -- pumpkin. While I'm very fond of pumpkin pie, sometimes I want to present something a little more decadent. So this Thanksgiving, I am serving Pumpkin Cheesecake. more
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Lucy HerrmanA stuffing made with piñon nuts and cranberries is a delectable alternative to traditional dressing.
A few side dishes to expand the meal
Tradition is the foundation of Thanksgiving dinner. A savory turkey surrounded by tasty side dishes is the main event of a successful holiday affair. more
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There are 10 cru Beaujolais, each taking its name from a village or region in the hills of east-central France.
How to geek out on Beaujolais
Recently, I've had several conversations with other wine professionals in town about Beaujolais. And believe it or not, there's plenty to talk about. more
Qué revés para el pastel de frutas que una vez ocupara un lugar de honor en la mesa de las celebraciones.
Repensando el pastel de frutas
En la década de los sesenta, Johnny Carson, entonces presentador de "The Tonight Show," bromeaba: "El peor regalo de Navidad es el pastel de frutas…Solo hay un pastel de frutas en todo el mundo y la gente sigue enviándoselo, unos a otros, año tras año." more
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Restoring fruitcake's glory
In the 1960s, Johnny Carson, then host of "The Tonight Show," famously joked, "The worst Christmas gift is fruitcake … There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other, year after year." Properly stored and wrapped in alcohol-soaked linen, fruitcake can indeed remain edible for years. But when did the dense, dark cake become the butt of so many holiday jokes? more
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The Bandol region in southeast France makes rosé (and a glorious one) and even some white wines, but its powerful, inky, gamy red is undeniably its star.
Think beyond rosé for wines from Provence
Think of Provence, and you probably think of lavender fields, ample sunshine, charming villages and rosé wine. The majority of wine made in Provence is pink, and for good reason. It's hot there, at least in the summer, and rosé is notably refreshing. Rosé also pairs well with the cuisine of the region: bouillabaisse and rosé. Yes, please! more
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Pan de muertos is a sweet, soft roll sprinkled with sugar (white or colored), glaze or icing, and covered with bone-shaped decorations.
Day of the Dead: the richness of the ritual
Day of the Dead evokes images of loved ones, wax-dripping candles and tantalizing smells coming from the kitchen. Sheets of colorful tissue paper, cut into elaborate designs. Little sugar skulls, too extravagantly ornamented to be edible, but pretty nonetheless. Flower arrangements, generally featuring marigolds or cempasúchil. more
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Lucy HerrmanA Mexican flourless chocolate cake, which is more of a custard than a cake.
A feast for the living on Day of the Dead
Although celebrated in many countries around the world, here in New Mexico, and especially in Taos, Day of the Dead is special. For some private, and for others public, Día de los Muertos is welcomed with festivities all around town. Ofrendas (altars) spring up, decorated with flowers, sugar skulls, photographs, candles, tissue paper flags and the favorite foods of the departed. more
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Lisa HerrmanZucchini vegetable strata (casserole) is an easy way to make a filling dish.
Got zukes?
A few years ago, my husband spotted a sign along the Rim Road in Des Montes: "FREE!" Not one to pass up a bargain, he stopped the car and discovered a large box filled with zucchini … more
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Before grüner veltliner burst Liza Minnelli-style onto the world wine stage, even it had a few more trials to endure, including a scandal that nearly killed Austrian wine for good.
Austrian wine industry survives invasions, disease and dilution
Wine grapes have been grown in what is now Austria for thousands of years, cultivated by Celtic tribes even before the Romans infiltrated the region. And with a history that long, there have to have … more
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Croquetas, those yummy rolls of goodness
Now that fall is coming, and we have eaten enough fresh salads and enjoyed our share of healthy smoothies, it’s time for a little indulgence in the form of … more
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Use up those apricots with this jam
Some friends recently gave us about five pounds of freshly picked apricots. I used half of them for cobbler and made the rest into jam. Everyone in Taos seems to be overwhelmed by the … more
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Since it's summer, I thought about dining al fresco in the backyard, and selected fried chicken, potato salad, and fruit crisp for my paleo picnic.
Eat your way to health, the way your ancestors did
For most of humanity's two-million-year or so existence, we were hunter-gatherers, whose main diet consisted of protein, tree fruits, roots and nuts -- the original Paleo diet. Only since the … more
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Drying and canning are two ways to preserve the rare bounty of apricots this year.
Year of the apricot
Apricots, which probably originated in China, have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years. In "Gardens of New Spain," a comprehensive study of the movement … more
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ShutterstockCanned peaches help preserve the taste of summer in jars for months.
Pickle fruit to preserve taste of summer
Stone fruits are coming into season in Northern New Mexico -- and the spring rains should deliver abundant summer crops of apricots, peaches, nectarines and … more
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ShutterstockUna antigua manera de preservar el sabor del verano, hacer conservas de fruta en salmuera --en especial de melocotones-- es muy popular en el sur de los Estados Unidos, donde brilla en la mesa navideña.
Frutas en conserva para preservar el sabor del verano
Ya llega la estación de las frutas con semilla al norte de Nuevo México --y las lluvias de primavera … more
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ShutterstockThis rosé in a can is a 'perfectly pleasant sipper, with a soft, creamy texture and flavors of apricot and orange zest, a little flint and a little fresh bread.'
Rosé in a can? Meet the underdogs of the pale pink class
I was standing in the wine shop this afternoon, completely at a loss as to what to write this month's article about. Of course, I'll never run out of ideas--there are as many topics as there are … more
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This meal is simple, hands-on and fun – and everyone can join in and help prepare for Dad’s special day.
Get kids cooking
With Father’s Day coming, I thought it would be fun to propose a festive dinner menu that the whole family can engage in creating for Dad’s special day more
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Should you toss that milk or not?
Almost everything you pick up in a grocery store these days, from dried herbs to eggs, canned goods to fresh meat, has at least one date on the label. But it's … more
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ShutterstockThree tips for eating mindfully: Say thanks, chew your food ... really well - and breathe.
How to eat mindfully
The Vietnamese Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh tells a story about sitting down with a friend under a tree to eat a tangerine. But his friend is eating so quickly and talking … more
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ShutterstockCalifornia's Mendocino County provides suitable growing regions for a far greater range of grapes than many others.
Enjoy a wide variety of wines from Mendocino
Most wine regions in the United States - and the world - tend to be associated with select grape varieties. Think Napa and cabernet sauvignon comes to mind. Malbec from Argentina. Riesling from … more
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Enjoy chives, young spring garlic
While Northern New Mexico is not yet safe from random freezes and rogue snows, the warmer temperatures and shifting light make us long for some early greens to … more
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Lucy HerrmanDolmades make a scrumptious meal served with a glass of vino and a salad.
Memories and Mothers
By Lucy Herrman Mother's Day is just around the corner, and for me that means memories of my Greek mother's cooking. To say that she was a great cook is an understatement. Although we lived in a … more
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