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In the kitchen
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File photoSpices from all over the globe take up one whole wall at Taos Spice Merchants, 226 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Unit B. Fat carries flavor, so warming or frying whole, fresh or dried spices or herbs -- like cumin, coriander, fennel, curry or peppers -- in a little butter or oil before adding them to a dish also intensifies their more savory side.
Brighten winter fare with flavor
About this time of year the pots of soup, stews, braises and other comfort foods that get us through winter can get a little -- let's admit it -- boring. more
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shutterstockNo doubt about it, some wines stink. Not all wines smell like a bed of roses.
Cat pee to burning tires: Winemakers tackle the stinky vintage challenge
The most abhorrent, offensive, repellent wine I have ever tasted was a pinot noir from South Africa. This was back in "wine school," and another student turned to me and said, "It's like the Michelin Man rolled in garbage, then set himself on fire." more
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A truffle cake is well worth the effort required to make it as a delectable sweet for your sweet.
'Berry' easy desserts for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love — in all its forms. Children give candy hearts and paper valentines to their friends at school. We treat each other with flowers, fancy dinners and missives of love. But nothing says “I love you” like a decadent, delectable dessert. more
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Before you grab a bottle of something cheap and dodgy, let's talk about some great -- and great value -- wines that will tide you over to the next paycheck.
Great wines, good for your postholiday pocketbook
If you blew out your budget on presents for the family (or yourself) over the holidays, your wine habit doesn't need to suffer. Before you grab a bottle of something cheap and dodgy, let's talk about some great -- and great value --wines that will tide you over to the next paycheck. more
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Lucy HerrmanSpicy Texas-style beef chili goes well with hearty bread or crackers.
Souper Bowl 2020: Try these one-bowl wonders for game days
Super Bowl LIV is just a few weeks away, on Feb. 2. But there are plenty of opportunities to watch playoff games until then. And I, for one, prefer to catch up on my favorite teams with something savory and delicious -- a one-dish dining solution. I am talking about a hearty, stand-up-your-spoon, thick-enough-to-satisfy, fill-up-again-at-halftime bowl of soup. more
Table manners: Holiday food that is a yes or no for pets
Our pets are family members, too, and will be just as tempted by the delectable range of aromas wafting through family kitchens during the holidays as our human relatives.  But not all holiday cooking will be healthy for our pets. Here's a list of  some cooking that is safe to share – in moderation – with our furry companions: more
Sparkling wine is tasty, and particularly food-friendly with bracing acidity that cuts through richness and salt that can defeat some still wines.
Need a little lift? Break open the bubbly
Most of us don't drink sparkling wine on a regular basis. Rightly or wrongly, we think of it as something to be reserved for special occasions, and are less likely to pick one up for a weeknight dinner than we are a still wine. more
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Photo courtesy recetascomidas.comMistela was a traditional Spanish drink made by families to serve as a dessert liquor and a cure for hangovers. It is best made a couple of weeks ahead of festivities.
Mistela: A traditional Spanish holiday liqueur
The New Mexican tradition of preparing mistela as a special beverage for celebrations is not as common as it was hundreds of years ago. Mistela is an alcoholic beverage prepared for Christmas, weddings, funerals and quinceañeras, and as always with family recipes it is made a little differently according to family tradition. more
Lucy HerrmanMake 1-inch balls out of the leftover risotto, roll them in panko breadcrumbs and freeze on trays. Then place them in plastic freezer bags until needed. Simply bake them until brown for a delicious and attractive appetizer.
Sautéed mushrooms: A versatile ingredient for holiday fare
The year-end holidays are one of the busiest times for most of us. We prepare and plan for all sorts of get-togethers, from intimate gatherings to full-on crowds. An elegant holiday sit-down affair with Grandma's china. Or the whole clan for a gala help-yourself buffet feast. Maybe a holiday open house, with festive cocktails and fancy hors d'oeuvres. Some years, we might host all three. more
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Tiny holiday cookies are fun to make, taste and package up as gifts for friends and family.
Tiny holiday cookies pack big flavors
The fact is, cookies are good for the soul. Baking brings back memories of our childhoods. Cooking together connects us with our children and grandchildren. And most of all, we get to share treasured recipes. more
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Jesse Moya/Taos NewsWith focus and purpose, Rufina Martinez tastes a biscochito and scores it during the annual contest at Taos Herb Company on Dec. 5. All the judges agreed that a cookie cannot be too hard or too soft.
Taos Herb crowns biscochito queen
Taos Herb Company has officially crowned their biscochito winner for 2019. Sonya Silva-Baca took home the best cookie award in Taos Herb's annual contest held Dec. 5 that brings out the best bakers in Taos for the holiday season. more
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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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