Merry Christmas

We’ve taken care of the last customer, locked the door, and swept the floor – it’s time to go home, light the candles in our windows and enjoy a quiet few days after the hectic pace of the last month.

We are grateful for the support of our customers and friends and take a special pride in knowing that so many goodies from our store are being shared among family and friends at holiday gatherings, and are also being given as special gifts to cooks and food enthusiasts.

We send our best holiday wishes to all of our customers – those who shop in our store as well as the mail-order customers we have yet to meet in person.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

May you dine well, laugh alot, share willingly and remember to be grateful for the blessings in your life.

 Mary Lou & Bob and everyone at Cooks Shop Here

It’s Holiday Party Time !!

Bring out your crystal glasses and prettiest dishes – it’s Holiday Party Time! Every host and hostess dreams of setting their holiday table with a smashing array of tempting, mouth-watering foods and desserts that are as inviting and tasty as the gorgeous creations that grace the pages of holiday food magazines.

For your holiday soiree, let us offer you a sure-fire, delicious and easy to make punch-for-a-crowd recipe from our new book of fifty drink recipes that is appropriately titled: HOT DRINKS.

We named this drink Admiral’s Rum and Brandy Punch after the West Indies-inspired combination of grapefruit, pineapple and rum.  To serve a crowd, scale the recipe up in proportion for the quantity of punch that you need. Recipe reprint courtesy of our publisher, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.

Admiral’s Rum and Brandy Punch

serves 4

1 cup apricot puree ( not apricot juice cocktail )
2 cups pineapple juice
1/2 cup white grapefruit juice ( not from concentrate )
1/2 cup ( 4 ounces ) light rum
1/4 cup ( 2 ounces ) brandy
4 lime wedges for garnish

Combine the apricot puree and juices in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a low simmer. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 2 minutes more then add the rum and brandy.

Serve in heatproof punch cups of glasses. Place a lime wedge in each cup, divide the punch evenly among the cups, and serve warm.