By Michelle Beck

I have such fond childhood memories of Larson’s Dairyland and its milk delivery. The milk in those glass bottles was delicious, as was the eggnog. A couple of years ago, attracted by the glass bottle, I bought a bottle of Broguiere’s eggnog at Vons.  Broguiere’s is based in Montebello, and Huell Howser has featured it in one of his many PBS shows. It is the closest I’ve found to my memories of Larson’s. It is expensive, but it is the best eggnog I’ve had, and I have taste-tested quite a few. If you think all eggnog tastes the same, I challenge you to do some taste-testing yourself.

In my opinion, there is a big difference between those with high-fructose corn syrup and those without. I used to buy the low-fat eggnog, which has fillers to make it taste creamier, But my taste-testing showed that there is a big difference in flavor and quality. I have come to the conclusion that I will drink less eggnog, but what I do have will be of the highest quality.  The supply of Broguiere’s is limited, so Vons usually runs out before I can buy too much, which is probably for the best. Return the bottle to the store and get your bottle deposit back – it is more than $1.

Party Food

Holiday parties are coming up, and with them the debate about what food to serve or bring. These cheese balls look and taste terrific. I roll the blue cheese version in dried cranberries. It and the cheddar-chutney version have been well received at parties in the past. I serve them with Blue Diamond Nut Thins to make them gluten-free for me. Everyone loves these crackers and they accompany the flavors perfectly. Also, a tray of local, seasonal vegetables is a good idea as well. For a delicious lighter ranch dressing, see my previous column here.

Brussels sprouts

Trader Joe’s has had Brussels sprouts on the stalk lately, and they are better than some might think. I thought I hated Brussels sprouts until I tried roasted fresh ones. To roast them, just cut them in half and sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast them on a foil-lined cookie sheet in a 450-degree oven for about 12 minutes. I also sprinkle them with Parmesan after cooking them. This Brussels sprouts soup is also good. I used all chicken broth and a little half and half instead of the cream. I also used fresh onion instead of dehydrated.

Maple syrup

This is maple syrup season, and I am not talking about Mrs. Butterworth’s. Most grocery store maple syrup is just maple-flavored high-fructose corn syrup. Real maple syrup can be expensive, but Trader Joe’s has some at reasonable prices. Maple syrup is graded A or B. A is lighter, with a lighter flavor. B is darker, with a stronger maple flavor, and is preferred for cooking. I usually buy B because I prefer the flavor.

Here is a recipe for maple-walnut fudge. I have also mixed maple syrup with a little powdered sugar to make a maple frosting that is almost as good as Smith’s Bakeries’. It is very good spread over cream scones. My friend, Janelle Goh, introduced me to English cream scones several years ago. They are absolutely delicious, with a velvety texture, and are nothing like the crumbly scones found in stores or coffee shops. Whenever Janelle brings scones, she can barely make it to the table before she is accosted by hungry friends. (Not by me, of course. I am always sitting in a ladylike manner waiting my turn.) The scone recipe is easily varied by adding different fruits, dried fruits, fruit zests and glazes.

Agave syrup

Agave syrup is a honey-like sweetener that comes from the agave plant. It tastes very similar to honey, and is used in much the same way. Agave is considered by some to be healthier than honey because it is thought to be lower on the glycemic index. But I found some information that suggests this may not be true. You will want to educate yourself before buying. Honey has health benefits as well, but both are still sugars, so I try to consume them sparingly – in order to leave more room for cookies.

Ginger

Ginger is one of my favorite flavors, and December is the perfect time to indulge. I saw a gingerbread pancake and waffle mix (not gluten-free) at Cost Plus the other day. It looked great!

I like ginger snaps as much as the next person, but these gingerbread snowflakes are pretty and delicious. I found snowflake cutters at Target a couple of years ago, but the recipe would lend itself to any shape, including gingerbread people. The dough is very pliable and easy to work with.

This gingerbread cake has a great flavor and soft texture. I like chocolate and ginger together, and really enjoyed these chocolate gingerbread cookies. To make these cookies gluten-free, I combined the recipe with a Pamela’s chocolate brownie mix.

Gluten-Free Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies

1 bag Pamela’s chocolate brownie mix

1 1/4 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. freshly grated ginger

1/3 cup melted butter

1/8 cup molasses

3 Tbsp. water

1 egg

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Drop 1 Tbsp. of dough on greased cookie sheet and flatten. (I use the base of a glass dipped in sugar.) Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

The Gluten-Free Pantry spice cake mix has a good gingersnap variation on the back of the box as well.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a member of the ginger family and is used in Indian, Middle Eastern and Scandinavian cooking.  It is a main ingredient in chai tea, which should give some idea of its flavor.

Cardamom snaps are a delicious variation on ginger snaps. To make a gluten-free version, just use the Gluten-Free Pantry’s spice cake mix and substitute cardamom for ginger in the gingersnap recipe on the back of the box.

For a different adult coffee drink, here is a recipe for Kahlua- cardamom cappuccino.

Champurrado

I was at Ranch Market a couple of weeks ago and tasted a drink called champurrado, which is a chocolate-based atole, or warm thick drink. It is made of masa (corn flour), piloncillo (cone-shaped Mexican brown sugar), water or milk and spices, such as cinnamon and vanilla. It reminds me a little of chai tea, but thicker. It is a seasonal drink popular during fall and winter. It is very sweet, so I am not sure I could drink a big glass, but it is also very tasty. Ranch Market is located on South H Street at Planz Road. The champurrado can be found at the beverage bar in the deli section.