~ Carrying on the Traditions ~

It's true that making family recipes connect us to the ones we love who are now gone as much as to enjoy eating them. I know each and every one of us has both joy and sadness somewhere in the heart that gets stirred in the holiday season. I'm reminded why I got into all of this good, fun work to begin with. It's a comfort, and we need to carry our traditions forward.
My all-star baking favorites are here for you to take comfort in throughout the holidays. We love our Lebanese molded ma'moul cookies, graybeh butter cookies with a divine light texture, thumbprints, chocolate crinkles, date crisps, classic cut-outs and chocolate cut-outs. Orange Blossom baklawa three ways: traditional (simplified), nut-free, and vegan. Make that four: baklawa fingers too, with almonds. Homemade nougat candy is my dream. Dipped chocolates are straight from my grandfather (he was a confectioner for a time!), and candied citrus peel straight from my culinary school days.