Holidays
have hit Port Arthur
Foodies
are festive this season, making the round and finding what’s trending at
fabulous spreads. Remember bread bowls full of spinach dip? That’s still good.
Boudain dip? I’ll still take some.
It’s
also fun to return to time-honored events where you expect certain bites to
always be there, and they are. Port Arthur Historical Society hosts holiday fellowship
at Pompeiian Villa with silver service, mixed nuts, tiny sandwiches and fancy
fare. It’s lovely to mingle with people who support Port Arthur’s history now,
and also imagine how many holiday guests this home has hosted in decades past.
Pumpkin
Update: Pairs well with peanuts
Some
would say the humble peanut needs nothing more than to be stirred with its oils
and scooped out of its jar. Then
there’s that “vintage” commercial where an innocent bump gets peanut butter
mixed into chocolate. So, let’s play.
PBfit,
billed as peanut butter without the love handles, now comes in pumpkin spice.
Peanut flour, coconut sugar, spices and salt mix into smoothies and pancakes.
Mix it with water to make a fruit or pretzel dip. Your imagination is the limit
here. Thank you, versatile peanuts.
On
the more indulgent side, bNUTTY rich gourmet peanut butter ready for that
swirl and scoop from the jar, but with suprises: the 100 percent creamy pumpkin
& holiday spice jar is a standout, blueberries and milk chocolate is a
totally different twist, cinnamon sugar cookie is a “why didn’t I think of
that” and peppermint brownie with white chocolate is just right for the
holidays. They’ve got more where that came from. But it’s the totally toffee
with milk chocolate and almonds that is just a nut beyond. I’ve met some peanut
butter nuts before. They need to bNutty.
Baking
season:
Remember
dirt cups made with chocolate wafer cookies? Years ago we served them in flower
pots with plastic flowers and it sure looked like a patio plant. Today’s kids
get an environmentally conscious update by creating Earth Day Dirt Cups with
unsweetened cocoa powder, serving in glass jars and “planting” a sprig of fresh
mint. “The Ultimate Kids Baking Book” takes young folks through the
seasons, birthdays and milestones with presentations that “cook up” fun
learning projects. Splashy photos bring Grasshopper Torte and Maple Spiced
Pumpkin Pie into focus. Tiffany Dahle makes us believe in sugar… in a good way.
Reindeer Munch is a great one for Christmas. Make sure you save some for
yourself. Santa’s guys get plenty of
goodies along their route.
Chai
Spiced Monkey Bread does sound approachable, but newbies could shy away from
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pinwheel Rolls and Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed
Rolls could intimidate. Trust Rebecca Lindamood and her book “Ready, Set,
Dough! Beginner Breads for All Occasions.” You can do it, and won’t everyone be
thanking you for it? Bread making is not a lost art for the everyday cook when you
have a photo-friendly guide like this one. Don’t worry. They don’t all call out
for rich and creamy butter. Others are topped with icing, cheese and seeds.
Darragh
Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who is not technically counting calories
this season. Share you ideas at darraghcastillo@icloud.com
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