I searched and searched for a croissant in the United States that was as flaky as the ones I tasted in Paris, but I had no such luck until last semester in Boston. I stumbled across Tatte and ordered their croissant sandwich.

The holiday season comes with roasted chestnuts, fruitcake, decorated cookies and the like. Baking during this time is a central tradition, but sometimes, watching others create extravagant pies and cakes...