‘Bethlehem’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Among many things, this website has become a great tool for me when I’m searching for an oft-made recipe. It has totally saved me on many occasions when I am hunting through stacks of tried-and-true recipes, looking for a particular one. As I have put the recipes here, I actually throw away the paper copy. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find my favorite homemade salad dressing recipe here this afternoon! It turns out I never added it here, because I wrote about it for Cooking Light, on one of their blogs, awhile back. Oops! This one is too good not to share with you (and put here so I can find it in a less crazy fashion than occurred frenetically this afternoon. Thank God, Sarah came to the rescue and found it for me! Of course, I had to write “Sarah, you are the best ever” ten times on the blackboard, but it was a small price to pay.).

You can read the back story in the old Cooking Light piece here, but the short version is that I fell in love with a Cinnamon Vinaigrette salad dressing years ago during one of our annual holiday trips to Bethlehem, PA. The restaurant refused to part with the recipe, nor the list of ingredients, but fate intervened not too long ago, and the heaven parts and angels took chorus and I found a look-alike version from Southern Living.

Cinnamon. It’s something you would never think to put in a salad dressing. But this is where you have to trust me. It works. It’s not overly sweet. Just overly right. You likely have all the ingredients on hand to whip up a batch any time you want, and it’s heaps better for you than most bottled dressings you can buy at the store.

This is a perfect recipe to celebrate Fall flavors. Mix it up with your favorite Mesclun greens, a few slices of ripe pears and Gorgonzola. Definitely the Gorgonzola. Tonight, I went with a perfectly ripe tomato that we scored at the farmers’ market, trying to eek out a few last bites of summer. This dressing recipe is one not to miss.

Project 365
September 28, 2010, Photo #169

I do believe that with the addition of the hat … and the promise of candy … she will actually keep the wig on. Although I’ve heard that “hope is not a strategy.”…

For over 10 years, every December, my mom and I would head to Bethlehem, PA for an overnight getaway. Unfortunately, the last few years, we haven’t made it there, but today The Husband and I loaded the kids up in the car and headed out for a fun day trip.

Bethlehem is home to the Christkindlmarkt, a wonderful craft fair celebrating the amazing talents of artisans. Everything from wooden ornaments and stuffed animals made from wool to glass blown Moravian stars and galleries of fabulous artwork. It definitely gives you a true appreciation for the talent of others, and it makes for a good outing with the kids. I think everyone came home with something today, even the dog!

The Christkindlmarkt is still on through the end of the month, so you have time to catch it. Once done there, walking down Main Street will have you popping into nearly every store and reveling in the gorgeous downtown decorations. There is no wonder why it’s called Christmas City. And, of course, no trip to Bethlehem is complete without a stop at our favorite brew pub, Bethlehem Brew Works. They have so many good mouthwatering selections, it will be tough to make up your mind.

While in the area, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Josh Early Candies, my favorite candy store. It might be small, but they have selections there that I can’t find anywhere else. That, unfortunately, could be a dangerous thing. On the way home, we stopped to visit the Lost River Caverns. The last time we stopped there, Nicholas was two years old, and we were on the way home from my sister’s wedding in Maine….

Honey-Cinnamon Vinaigrette

Bethlehem PA Day Trip