Three Generations of Shortbread

The Heritage Shortbread story is heart warming and so are their all natural sweet biscuits. Willow McGrain's South Carolina Lowcountry kitchen is where each and every buttery-rich shortbreads are baked from. The century old shortbread recipe was never written down- I'd say, the best kept family secret from Willow's Scottish origin. I wonder if Willow's great-great-grandmother imagined her holiday baking tradition would become a holiday shopping demand around the country? You can get them or send them.

Authentic Sacher Torte

Exclusively available at the Hotel Sacher Wien, the Hotel Sacher Salzburg, the Café Sacher Innsbruck, the Café Sacher Graz and at the Sacher Shop in Bolzano. Just like 175 years ago, the cakes are covered with apricot jam, iced with chocolate and packed in wooden boxes by hand. 
This Hotel Sacher specialty is a purely natural product, made without chemical preservatives. The "Original Sacher-Torte" is traditionally served with unsweetened whipped cream and a cup of "Original Sacher Café". More than 300,000 cakes are produced at the Hotel Sacher per year, more than half of them are sent to destinations all over the world. 


If you missed your flight to Vienna this weekend, order takeout: Order by December 8th to receive prior to Christmas: Original Sacher-Torte 19.50-39.50 EUR plus 26 EUR for 14 day air mail delivery (aprox $59-$85U.S.).

Pick of the Crop

What are you having for breakfast? It's cold outside and you need something that sticks to your ribs to power you up for the day. Eat oatmeal. For 150 years John McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal product hasn't changed a bit. The packaging is virtually the same too. Well, they have added a few quick cook versions, for those that can't wait 30 minutes for the traditional Irish porridge way. I prefer mine topped with 2% milk and a little Turbinado Sugar.

Words from McCann's...

"Steel-Cut Oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into two or three pieces using steel discs. Golden in colour and resembling mini rice particles, they are as nature intended – nothing added and nothing taken out.

Grains are essential to a healthy lifestyle and form the foundation of the food pyramid. Steel-Cut oats are inherently full of nutritional value and are high in B-Vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber while low in salt and unsaturated fat. One cup of Steel-Cut oatmeal contains more fiber than a bran muffin and twice as much fibre as Cream of Wheat. The quality of Irish Oats and the distinctive crunchy texture make McCann's Steel-Cuts a gourmet delight."

 Did I mention- it's good for you?

Lifestyle Food Trends Review

December First is here. Before we jump into 2010, let's take a look at my 2009 Top 10 Lifestyle Food Trends posted back in January 2009 and see how I did.

At first glance, I stayed pretty much on target. OK, so South African wines didn't become wine leading importer to the US; but I've felt really good about the quality of their wines ever since I first sampled them in South Africa in the late 80s. As for the rest of my picks, I was pretty much on target. Have a look for yourself- only 31 days 'til 2010. Next month I'll pass along my Top Ten Lifestyle Food Trends for 2010.