holiday

  • A woman serves a pink cocktail garnished with a grapefruit slice. There is a bottle of Empress 1908 gin next to the cocktail.

    Empress Grapefruit Fizz Cocktail

    January 9, 2023marissajmakes

    Winter citrus is one of my favorite ingredients to experiment this time of year, both in my food recipes, and my cocktail recipes! With only 3 ingredients, this Empress Grapefruit Fizz cocktail is anything but ordinary, and is full of wonderful midwinter flavor. The all-natural indigo hue of the Empress 1908 Gin enhances the gorgeous pinks…

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  • A pear and pecan pie styled with fresh pears, pumpkins, and autumn leaves

    Pear and Pecan Pie with Salted Caramel Sauce

    October 30, 2022marissajmakes

    I love pie. I love making it, I love eating it, and I love sharing it. This pie is a celebration of fall harvest and flavors. The filling is comprised of a pecan layer, and a simple spiced pear filling that is both refreshing and comforting. And the best part? The salted caramel topping sauce, of…

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  • huckleberry pie

    Huckleberry Pie

    February 18, 2022marissajmakes

    I have many fond memories of wandering along the Huckleberry Trail in the regional park where I grew up, munching on freshly picked huckleberries straight from the bushes. That’s one of the things I miss about living in the Bay Area, is the wild bursts of sweetness during the summer months from the berry brambles and…

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  • Persimmon Tart with Pecan Frangipane

    November 20, 2021marissajmakes

    Persimmons are one of my absolute favorite fruits. They can be used in both sweet and savory applications, and used raw, baked, or cooked. I decided to put a seasonal twist on a classic frangipane tart and came up with this result. The frangipane is made with pecan flour instead of the traditional almond flour, and…

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  • Apple Berry Pie with Cardamom Crust

    November 11, 2021marissajmakes

    This pie is made for cold weather comfort: it’s filled with Granny Smith apples, mountain blackberries, brown sugar, and cinnamon, with a crust studded with cardamom for extra warmth. It’s very adaptable and works with frozen or fresh berries. If you don’t have blackberries, you can substitute with your berry of choice, or simply increase the…

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