Just In

Mary Jo McMillin offers Dresden stollen, English plum pudding, buche de noel and other traditional holiday pastries for takeout at her Mary Jo's Cuisine in Oxford. Prices range from about $8 a pound for the sweet pudding to $45 for buche de noel ($25) half. Call to order: 523-2653.

Members of the Greater Cincinnati Retail Bakers Association celebrate their 10th holiday season making and selling "Breaddy Bears." The bakers donate $1 from each sale of the sweet bread dough bears to Kindervelt of Children's Hospital and Fernside for grieving children. Bready Bears are on sale through Jan. 1. To find a participating bakery: (859) 727-4146.

What Is This?

Anise (AN-ihss) seed has been used for centuries to impart a sweet, licorice flavor to food, including holiday pastries, cookies and liqueurs, such as pastis and ouzo. As a substitute in cooking, use equal amount of fennel seed or about half the amount of crushed star anise.

Tube Food

Sara Moulton whips up Red-Wine Braised Beef Brisket and Aunt Rifka's Flying Disks on her Hanukkah-themed Sara's Secrets at 7 p.m. Thursday on the Food Network.

Hot Date

Taste three sparkling wines, a cabernet sauvignon and trio of ports at Awakenings Coffee & Tea in Hyde Park (2734 Erie Ave.) 6-8 p.m. Friday. $22. Reservations recommended: 321-2525.

Cookie Swap

Make requests and share recipes on our Virtual Cookie Exchange at www.Cincinnati.Com (Keyword: cookie). The exchange will remain open through Dec. 24.