Pizza for Busy People at Holiday Time

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

I’m still a bit under the weather and bit over my recent soup and hot tea diet. What I am craving these days is a bit of crunch from a crispy baked pizza crust, topped with some gooey cheese and good vegetables.

Since it is now 7p.m. and I’m still at work, chances are I will not want to whip up my own dough. But as luck would have it I know that I have some naan flatbread lurking in my pantry that will do just the trick.

With the holidays just around the corner, keep this recipe in your entertaining arsenal to make for unexpected guests as a little nibble to enjoy with wine and cheese. Simply cut the pizza into little squares.

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Easy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles

By Katie Barreira
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

Cookies, cookies and more cookies…even St. Nick could get sick of them over the holidays. This Christmas, break out of the baking rut and leave Santa a treat that’s full of sweet surprises.

How long it took to make them, for one. These decorative confections may look like they require a workshop of merry elves, but really, all it takes is a zap in the microwave and some time to chill out (the truffles, not you – you will be stocking up on last-minute stuffers, wrapping presents, watering the tree or scolding the dog for giving the tree a watering of his own design.) Then it’s a quick roll in the seasonal candy and you’ve got truffles fit for a Klaus.

And shhhh…don’t tell Santa that these chocolates have half the fat and calories of a traditional truffle. He’ll never know the difference and neither will you! In fact, replacing heavy cream with almond milk amplifies the chocolate flavor.

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Decorating Ideas for your Holiday Table

Congratulations to Angela S from San Francisco who won our Kitchen Tools sweepstakes. Enjoy your new tools!

By Sandy Hu
The latest from Inside Special Fork

We are not doing an annual Christmas party this year. We had the last big holiday party, ever last year. And now I’m done.

But that doesn’t mean we aren’t in a festive holiday spirit. The tree is decorated, the swag is hung and the wreath is ready for the door. All the decorations we treasure – the nutcrackers collected in Germany, the snow globes, the hand-knit stockings from when the kids were born – are adding joy to our household.

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Enter for a Chance to Win Cool Tools

By Sandy Hu
A new video for Video Friday

Everyone can use some new kitchen tools – especially this time of year when we’re all in a cooking and baking frenzy. So Special Fork has made it an annual holiday tradition to offer a sweepstakes package of cool kitchen tools. Dave and I go out to shop personally to make the selections, asking at cookware stores about the hot sellers. This year’s prize package retails for $122.

Today, I’m showing you what we hand-picked for this year’s lucky Special Fork sweepstakes winner. To enter, please go to our Facebook page.

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Pan-Roasted Winter Fruits

By Andrew Hunter
For The Family Table, a blog for busy families

Yukon Gold potatoes are included in this trio of winter fruits because their flesh is slightly sweeter than other potatoes. The combination of potatoes, apples, pears and chestnuts roasted in butter and olive oil produces a side dish that’s both sweet and savory and a perfect accompaniment to your holiday meal. Marilyn and I have been making it during the holidays for years.

The boys think it’s strange to take perfectly crisp and cool apples and pears and make them soft and warm. I understand their logic but think they’ll grow into the idea as their tastes mature.

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