Raspberry Trifle (Charlotte aux Framboises)

At first blush, charlotte aux framboises closely resembles an Italian tiramisu. The lady fingers and cream are where the similarities end though. This recipe is made with raspberry extract, fresh raspberries and raspberry sauce. For a more grownup treat, you can use framboise, which is a raspberry-flavored liqueur. Charlottes are traditionally made with fromage blanc, which is a thick yogurt that you can find in any market in France. I didn't have any, so I substituted mascarpone in instead. It's delicious either way.

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Vietnamese Tamarind Sweet Crab (Cua Rang Me)

Vietnamese-style tamarind crab (cua rang me in Vietnamese) is an incredibly simple, yet absolutely mouth-watering dish. The real key to making this dish successfully is to have the freshest crab you can get. The roughly cracked pieces of crab are stir fried in a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. The sauce is made of tamarind, chili, Thai basil and garlic. The Thai basil imparts an intense fragrance to the sauce, and by extension, to the crab.

We eat this dish family style. No pretense here. Just get a large platter, fill it with the tamarind crab and put it in the middle of your dinner table. We don't have enough meat eaters in my house, so I always call over a couple of family members or friends to share in the bounty. Roll up your sleeves, and dig in!

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Ina Garten's Lemon Pasta (Recipe Review)

I love Ina Garten. I watch her show religiously and I have read through each and every one of her cookbooks. I'm especially fond of Barefoot Contessa at Home. I've tried several of the recipes featured in this cookbook and they've turned out fabulously. My family's favorite is lemon fusilli with arugula. I love the creaminess and velvety texture of the sauce. The lemon zest brightens the dish and the arugula and broccoli help to cut some of the richness. The pasta is served warm with a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
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Matcha Green Tea Latte

I prepared my matcha green tea latte with the same procedure one would use for making white hot chocolate. The drink is made with a blend of lightly sweetened matcha green tea, white chocolate, steamed milk and heavy cream. You wouldn't want to drink this every day, but that's what holiday treats are all about!

This recipe can be modified to feature many different seasonal flavors. Peppermint, cinnamon and other spices come to mind. You don't have to go to the local coffee shop to enjoy holiday specials anymore; be your own barista and save the change for stocking stuffers.

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Merry Christmas! (plus Christmas Brunch Recipes)

Hi Everyone, Our family is spending the holidays in Las Vegas. We're eating a lot and having so much fun. I just wanted to stop by and wish a very merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. I hope Santa brought whatever it is that you wanted. xoxo Jackie
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