the perfect margarita

This week many of us are coming up on the anniversary of all sorts of things we had little idea would define the year ahead. I remember saying things like “these masks are really expensive but they’re all that’s available, should I buy them?” (yes, Deb, and also some flour) …

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rigatoni alla vodka – smitten kitchen

Note: 1/2 cup tomato paste is 2/3 of a 6-ounce can or all of a 4.5-ounce tube. 1 pound dried rigatoni Kosher salt 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 large or 2 small shallots, minced Red pepper flakes, to taste 3 medium garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup …

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plush confetti cupcakes – smitten kitchen

plush confetti cupcakes – smitten kitchen Skip to content Nobody needs my dedication to butter, milk, buttermilk, cream, crème fraîche, sour cream, or eggs clarified here; we all know I get a little twitchy when the fridge is low on any. These vegan cupcakes are not an abnegation of anything, …

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parmesan oven risotto – smitten kitchen

I always save parmesan rinds because they provide an amazing boost in simple bean soups, minestrones, and even vegetable broths. You can freeze them almost forever. If you don’t have any saved — but you promise to going forward, right? — I’ve found that most stores that sell grated parmesan …

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lemon and lime mintade – smitten kitchen

Last week was a Lot. I ventured into it buzzing with adorably ambitious New Year’s intentions to, like, get things done, and spent most of it glued to a screen, furious and frustrated. As I mentioned in this morning’s newsletter, I’ve often felt that January is a blur and this …

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small-batch eggnog – smitten kitchen

I use half brandy and half bourbon here, but any combination or single type will work. I’m usually a purist about eggnog (no vanilla or cinnamon, just nutmeg) but added a both here, just for a little extra festive aroma. I prefer my ‘nog barely sweet, but feel free to …

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gingerbread yule log – smitten kitchen

For a simpler cake, you can skip both the whipped cream on the outside (reduce the cream to 1 cup, the sugar to 1 to 2 tablespoons) and the white chocolate bark, and dust the cake with powdered sugar. If you only have a half-sheet pan (13×18-inch), you can 1.5x …

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