Welcome to the new year, friends! Are you feeling refreshed, reinvigorated, and ready for a new year in the kitchen? We are, too! Official “resolutions” can be weighty and intimidating; we find simpler, more accessible changes to be far more inspiring and life-changing, which is why we’ve put together this list of 10 small ways to make your kitchen just a little better, easier, and more enjoyable this year.

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Until recently, I believed handcrafted soaps were best left to the artisans who make and sell them in specialty stores and boutiques. But thanks to my dear friend Donna, who makes soap every December for holiday gifts, I learned that handmade soap is easy and attainable for everyone.

Placing homemade soap by your kitchen sink is a constant reminder of care and warmth in an otherwise cold string of winter months. With only a few basic supplies and pieces of equipment, you can create enough soap to last you until spring.

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There really is nothing quite like a multi-day cooking project to ease winter’s biting chill, and with the current temperatures in the single digits I’m sure we could all use an activity to bide our time indoors. These Southern-style tamales are the perfect way to get your friends and family off the couch and into the kitchen, and a batch is guaranteed to keep your minds occupied and bellies warm!

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By now, we’ve all met our quota of eggnog, peppermint, and pumpkin-spice inspired hot chocolate (not to mention a lifetime supply of plain cocoa), but we still need something sweet to warm us up on a wintery night.

I’ve got a soft spot for white hot chocolate, which is as comforting as a glass of hot milk can be, but equally snooze-inducing.

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