You only live once! That’s what they say, right? Whether extravagant and over the top or more on the indulgent side (or both!), these gifts embrace all that is YOLO. Shop from this gift guide and you’re sure to spoil anyone who’s on your list.
During Hanukkah there are eight nights of celebrating to do, so it only feels right to have a signature cocktail on hand for any planned or unplanned gatherings that come your way. Make that signature cocktail this festive sparkling wine sangria. Gently spiked with pear liqueur and filled with fresh pear slices, it’s a holiday twist on the classic pitcher drink that always pleases a crowd.
Skip the long line at the chain coffee shop when you’re craving an eggnog-flavored latte and settle for the real deal at home instead. With the help of a carton of store-bought eggnog and the slow cooker, you can make a big batch of eggnog lattes for a decadent holiday morning treat, or you can spike it with your favorite alcohol to sip after dinner while relaxing by the fire. This rich, sweet coffee drink has an extra boost of spices and a secret trick for making the flavors in the spices sing.
As a kid, there were few things more exciting this time of year than the annual tradition of baking holiday cookies with my family. From pressing my fingers into dough to make thumbprint cookies and adding the chocolate kiss to the peanut butter blossoms, to decorating sugar cookies and even pouring the chocolate chips into the bowl, there was always a way for me to get involved.
If you’ll be getting your little ones in the kitchen for some holiday baking, this lineup of cookie favorites is a great place to get started.
If there was a ranking of all the food that make me feel nostalgic, meatloaf would be up there. No, my parents never made meatloaf for dinner, but I did have it regularly at my middle school cafeteria in Minnesota. No burger or meatball will suffice when meatloaf is on the brain. The deeply savory meat matched with ketchup (yes, ketchup needs to be involved) is pure comfort food.
I imagine many people grow up with their mom’s secret recipe or something their great-great-grandparent passed down, but I am not one of those people. And because of it, I’m currently on the prowl for a new recipe to try out. If you’re like me, Pinterest says you should give this meatloaf a spin.
Here’s something that’s going to change your home cooking life: You can make better vanilla extract at home in about an hour using the Instant Pot. Yes, one hour! If your mind isn’t blown yet, consider this: The Instant Pot will also give your homemade vanilla extract the intensity of aged homemade extract or high-quality store-bought vanilla. This vanilla extract is sweet and heady with a rich perfume and is only a few jars and an electric pressure away. It’s the perfect last-minute gift for the baker in your life, or a game-changing ingredient for your holiday baking. Here’s how to make this magic in the kitchen.
Sometimes the most intimidating part of preparing a roast is shopping for one. Buying a beef tenderloin has the added pressure of a higher price tag than other cuts of beef and it can come in a few forms depending on where you buy it. We’re here to arm you with enough confidence to pick up a beef tenderloin, whether you’re at your neighborhood butcher or your local Costco. These are the three things you need to know about buying beef tenderloin.
Whether it’s served at a romantic dinner for two or it’s roasted whole as the centerpiece of a holiday dinner, beef tenderloin is the classic choice for a special and sometimes over-the-top main dish.
It’s also one of the most expensive beef cuts around, so there’s a lot of pressure to not mess it up. Whether you’re cooking tenderloin steaks for your sweetheart or roasting the whole cut for a crowd, here are five mistakes to avoid, plus some tips, so your efforts and money are well-spent!
Chocolate crinkle cookies, with their crackly, powdered-sugar surface and chewy, brownie-like center, are a beloved part of many holiday cookie plates. While we’ll never tire of the classic version, this take is an elegant twist that could easily become a new favorite.
Fresh mint infuses these crinkle cookies with bright, herbal notes that have long been an ideal match for rich chocolate. They’re a twist on the favorite mint-and-chocolate pairing that feels especially suited for the holiday season.
In modern Western culture, saying no can be akin to declaring that orangutans shouldn’t be saved or husbands shouldn’t do laundry. From a young age, we’re encouraged to put our hands up more, participate more, do more. When we ask people how they are and they respond, “busy,” we assume they are well. After all, only healthy, active people with a life are busy.
Equating busyness with happiness is perhaps even truer during the holidays. All it takes is a quick skim of popular media and I begin to feel like I’m not busy enough. Images and headlines suggest that I am meant to make dozens of cookies from scratch for the neighborhood exchange and create unique homemade gifts wrapped with environmentally friendly artistry — all while “leaning in” to my scintillating career, feeding my children whole-grain and plant-based meals, and wearing an ugly holiday sweater that is mocking yet flattering.