News & Stories
Traditions in the Kitchen
The holidays are all about making new memories and cherishing beloved traditions. Pastry Chef April Franqueza shared a couple of her favorite annual holiday traditions in the kitchen!
Christmas Cookie Magic
“I love to make Christmas cookies throughout the month of December. It was something that my parents always did with my siblings and I, so I still love to make my favorites. My go-to recipes include my grandma Snyder's almond spritz cookies, and recently I've tweaked my mom's thumbprint cookies and now love them. (They were my least favorite in childhood!) I also make two of Scott's favorites each year – cherry blossoms as well as his grandma Franqueza's pepparkakor recipe. Both recipes were new to me, but now I can't imagine the holidays without them.”
A Delicious Anniversary
“Scott and I were married on New Year's Eve, and although we are usually working, we love to celebrate our anniversary in the days that follow with a venison Wellington. Scott is an avid hunter, so we always have venison tenderloin in our freezer. Then he makes delicious mushroom duxelles and fresh crepes, and I make the puff pastry that we wrap around it. It's certainly a labor of love, but it feels really special to share that together each year. And it's delicious!”
Want to try out some of Chef April’s holiday recipes at home? CLICK HERE to discover the recipes for her iconic holiday sugar cookies and dark chocolate fudge!
