Christmas Creep, Hungarian-Style: Beigli

poppy seeds, cookbook picture 

After first trying beigli in a Hungarian language class, I was hooked. It's bread (so of course I love it) with a walnut or poppy seed filling. I had been buying it occasionally from the market, but I wanted to see if I could make it myself. It's traditionally eaten at Christmastime, so consider this a practice batch! 

Pear and Almond Tart

Pears are in season and they're everywhere, with their great variety of textures, colors, and tastes. As much as I like eating a good pear, here's something else you can do with them: make a pear and almond tart.