(Paired with Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon)

(Paired with Twomey pinot noir)

Any time family and friends come together, the gathering focuses on what’s to eat.

I’ve been baking a lot of bread recently. I tell you this not because I’m going to write about bread today (I’m not), but because it explains why the lack of counter space in my kitchen has re-emerged as a burning issue.

Who says Thanksgiving dinner isn’t healthy? The staple ingredients of this holiday’s comfort food have redeeming healthful properties that make this meal extra scrumptious. Adding a little culinary know-how to traditional recipes can transform this fest into a guilt-free feast.

For many of us, holiday baking is among the happiest of our childhood memories, calling up festive aromas and flavors, and reminding us of pleasures shared with family and friends.