In the Kitchen: Mole tamales and more for Christmas

Maria de Jesus, second from left in blue apron, with her daughters Bricia Lopez, left, Elizabeth Lopez, center, and Paulina Lopez Velasquez while making a classic Oaxacan Christmas meal.

Dec. 23, 2015 12:05 AM PT

What is Christmas in Los Angeles without tamales? The family behind the lauded Koreatown Oaxacan restaurant Guelaguetza shares recipes for mole tamales and more dishes to celebrate the holiday. And if you're looking for holiday cookie recipes using alternative grains and flours, cookbook author and baker Maria Speck gives the lowdown on whole grains, along with tips and recipes you'll want to add to your collection. We also profile Copenhagen Pastry owner Karen Hansen, who shares her Danish bakery's recipe for Napoleon hats.

Because you can never have too many handy wine apps at the ready on your phone, we check out the great new app Banquet. Finally, we're sharing one holiday cookie recipe a day on our blog until Christmas, because you can never have too many cookie recipes, either.

— Noelle Carter

A Oaxacan Christmas feast from the Guelaguetza family

If you're still wondering what to make this Christmas, you might take some inspiration -- and recipes -- from the Lopez family. Jonathan Gold was recently at Bricia Lopez's house watching the tamale-making process. The Lopez family might be called first family of Oaxacan cuisine in Los Angeles; its lauded Koreatown restaurant Guelaguetza was selected by the James Beard Foundation as one of its America's Classics earlier this year. Aromas wafted from the open kitchen of the house as Bricia, her mother and sisters prepared chicken barbacoa, ponche, poblano spaghetti and, of course, mole tamales for the holiday.

A classic Oaxacan Christmas meal at the Los Angeles home of Bricia Lopez. The family runs the celebrated Oaxacan restaurant Guelaguetza in the heart of Koreatown.

Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Holiday cookie recipes using whole grain flours

With all the alternative whole-grain flours you can find in the markets now, it's tempting to want to try them, especially with all the holiday baking going on right now. Cookbook author Maria Speck gives the lowdown on spelt, barley and teff, along with tips for use. Oh, and she shares some wonderful holiday cookie recipes.

Holiday Spelt Biscotti around a Barley Thumbprint with honey and hazelnuts.

Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Copenhagen Pastry's Karen Hansen

Are you one of those people who can never get enough marzipan during the holidays? Or any other time of the year? Then you're probably familiar with Karen Hansen of Copenhagen Pastry. Her first place opened three years ago in Culver City, with a newer outlet open for about a year now in Pasadena. According to Amy Scattergood, Copenhagen Pastry "functions for many people in this town as a kind of marzipan dealership." Hansen shares the bakery's recipe for Napoleon hats -- little cookies baked around a ball of marzipan and dipped in chocolate.

Love Nordic cuisine? Rene Redzepi is famous for a number of things beyond the success of his Copenhagen restaurant Noma, including bringing Nordic cuisine to the forefront. If you're interested in traditional or new Scandanavian cuisine, Amy Scattergood checks out three new cookbooks you'll want to add to your collection.

Baker Karen Hansen, owner of Copenhagen Pastry, rolls out the dough to make Napoleon hat cookies at her bakery in Pasadena on Dec. 7.

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

A handy new wine-buying app

Looking for the perfect smartphone app for buying wine? Frustrated at how slow and frustrating most apps can be? Fret no more. S. Irene Virbila tracked down Banquet, an easy-to-use app that allows you to buy unique wines from independent wine shops across the country. Best of all: You only have to enter your credit card information once.

Banquet

More cookie recipes

Ever thought of adding brown butter to a recipe? Browning butter lends an added depth of rich, nutty flavor to a dish, whether you're thinking savory sauces, creamy icings, glazes and more. And it works wonders with cookies. These brown butter cookies are crunchy on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside. And taking the extra step to brown the butter makes the cookies that much better. Make an extra batch, because they'll go quickly.

It's just one of the holiday cookies we're featuring every day on our Daily Dish blog. With white chocolate-turtle cookies to dulce de leche cookies, the ultimate wedding cookie and more, you'll find something to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Recipe: Bittersweet Treat's brown butter cookies

Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times

Jonathan Gold's 101

The 101 is here! Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants, the authoritative annual guide to local dining, is online for subscribers. Find the list at latimes.com/jonathangold. Official hashtag #JGOLD101.