Candied Orange Peel rolled in sugar and drying before use. Image by Gwynne Middleton. Each year, about a week before Christmas, I make a...

The cold-weather grace period usually ends for my late January. With the end of the winter holidays and the persistence of days with temperatures below freezing and snowy, I start longing for spring bulbs to pop above soil level and trees to start leafing out.

Chocolate-Dipped Florentines baked, dipped, and cooling. Image by Gwynne Middleton. My family knows Christmas is near when I break out the ingredients for florentines. From the fresh candied ora nge peel to the use of almond meal, the ingredients list is short for this wintry recipe and takes its c ue from Europe and the Mediterranean region. These Chocolate-Dipped Florentines are crisp Italian cookies that can be enjoyed on their own, but I love having one alongside a strong