It’s downright cold outside -- the perfect weather for sipping lattes, snuggling in soft blankets and watching the gentle flicker of a candle. Each year as spring arrives, I wonder how I could ever have been eager for winter, but here I am again.
“Which Side Are You On” by Ryan Lee Wong; Catapult (192 pages, $26) Ryan Lee Wong’s original debut novel, “Which Side Are You On,” opens with its 20-year-old protagonist, Reed, at a crossroads. He’s on academic probation at Columbia, formerly the college of his dreams, when he flies home to Los Angeles to visit his dying grandmother.
PUMPKIN TORTE • 24 graham crackers, crushed • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/2 cup butter • 8 ounces cream cheese • 3/4 cup sugar • 2 eggs Mix crackers, sugar and butter and put in a 9x13-inch pan. Top with remaining ingredients.
In some areas of the country, especially the South, sweet potatoes make regular appearances at the end of the meal, yet for many of us elsewhere, it’s a surprise to encounter them in dessert form. But they are called sweet potatoes for a reason! This comforting, pretty and very simple pie is made easier if you take the shortcut of using a refrigerated crust — one of the best inventions ever, in this casual pie maker’s opinion.
Wendy’s is joining the holiday drink trend — and it’s not pumpkin spice latte. For a limited time, the fast food chain’s Frosty will be available in peppermint, replacing the strawberry offering from the summer.
A secret treat at Whataburger is getting a spot on the restaurant’s official menu. The fast-food chain, based in Texas, recently announced that chili cheese fries are available on its regular menu alongside the usual cheeseburgers, patty melts and breakfast burgers.
The holidays are soon upon us, and because there’s always room for a dazzling dessert or late-night snack, many of us will be looking for new cookie recipes that will wow guests with the perfect mix of crunch, chew and flavor.
• 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 box (1/2 cup) instant butterscotch pudding mix • 1/3 cup light brown sugar • 1 large egg • 1 egg yolk • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups flour • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan or line 2 half-sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Serves 8 • 3 medium sweet potatoes, about 1 1/2 pounds • 1 refrigerated pie crust for a 9-inch pie • 3 large eggs • Grated zest of 1 orange • 2/3 cup sugar • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 cup heavy cream • Sweetened Whipped Cream to serve Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prick the sweet potatoes in several places with a fork, and bake them right on the rack for 1 1/2 hours, until very soft.
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for close to a year, and in this short time I’ve seen a side of my wife I’ve never seen before. Although I met her during a period of sobriety, she drinks now.