Let it Snow!

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

I adore Christmas but am not a fan of shopping at this time of the year. Crowds and long lines are just not my kind of fun. So I like to get into the holiday spirit by baking small gifts for others.

Last year, I made some cookies, small breads and individual bread puddings. However, this year is different because I just moved back to my house in the Hudson Valley from Pennsylvania this past week. Being surrounded by pillars of boxes that seem to not want to go away doesn’t exactly encourage one to spend days baking!

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A Seasonal Salad

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

If you’re planning a holiday dinner party this year, think salads. A salad makes the perfect first course. It’s a light and fresh beginning for the richer main course to follow, and you can do all the prep in advance, tossing the ingredients just before serving.

I eat salads all year long and rarely have a dinner that does not involve a small plate of greens, either pre- or post-dinner, with a bit of cheese. So the recipe I made contains both and achieves all the notes that I desire in taste and texture.

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Quick Chicken Dinner

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

As we enter the holiday season, remember to pause, take a break, and cook yourself up a delicious but simple and quick dinner at home.

The recipe below is one that you would be proud to serve for company as well. It’s not a new way to cook the chicken but a great way to dress it up for the holidays with a quick grape pan sauce.

Grapes are extremely versatile as they can be eaten out of hand, fresh or frozen, and can easily be made sweet or savory or a bit of both. Here they are given a quick cook to bring out their jam-like quality to add a sweet note to our sauce.

The jewel color alone says holiday. The garlic, the anise note of the tarragon and the acidity of the wine only enhance the grapes further. If tarragon is not your herb of choice, then simply substitute rosemary.

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Mediterranean Roast Chicken Thighs

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Who doesn’t love a good roast chicken? The crispy skin…the delicious pan juices…what’s not to like?

During the week, cooking up a whole bird, although not hard to do, might just take a little too long. So I go with my favorite part, the thighs. I love thighs because of the juicy dark meat and ample skin that tops the bone-in version. Plus, it only takes about a fourth of the time to roast thighs, as compared to a whole bird.

Another win is that you can buy just the amount you need. (But who would roast just enough for one, when cooking for one takes just as much time as for three!) Leftovers will yield some killer roast chicken sandwiches or can be used to top a salad for lunch. Or, use it for a quick chicken noodle soup or pasta dish the second night for dinner.

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Winter Salad

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Yes, salad can be a year-long feature! It’s not just relegated to summer anymore.

I think most people think of salad as being a cold dish. But the best pasta salads are actually served warm – you combine the hot drained pasta with the rest of the ingredients so that the pasta absorbs all of the other flavors more easily.

Winter salads can be served on the slightly cooked and warm side. The greens and vegetables that are available at this time of year are hardier and can stand up to heat and a stronger and sweeter vinaigrette to balance out their earthy flavors.

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