(Image credit: Marla Meridith)

People have very strong opinions on what should be in a margarita. I remember when our editor Faith Durand suggested a couple years ago that you shouldn’t be adding orange liqueur to your margarita, and the comments section got pretty ugly. Yes, traditional margarita recipes generally just have three things: tequila, triple sec, and lime. But don’t let the haters get in the way of making your version of the classic.

If you’re ready to switch things up a little this summer, I have just the drink for you. I’ve found the most popular margarita recipe on Pinterest, and it’s definitely not traditional.

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If you’re into entertaining and mixing up cocktails at home, it’s easy to end up with a bar cart (or cabinet) full of random tools and gadgets you think you need. But the truth is, you don’t need all that much to make the perfect Negroni or Manhattan. Yes, you need the booze and a drinking vessel, but a lot of the rest is bonus.

We spoke with Elliott Clark, the mastermind behind Apartment Bartender, to find out which tools people can really live without. Save the cash (and the storage space) for a nice bottle of whiskey instead!

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If grocery chain Albertsons has its way, it’ll be adding a fancier supermarket to its roster: Whole Foods. According to the Financial Times, the private equity firm that owns Albertsons is looking to acquire the Austin-based upscale grocer, known for retailing organic and natural products.

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This bourbon-spiked, chocolate and walnut pie (aka we-can’t-call-it-Derby-pie pie) may well be the most controversial pie in the history of Kentucky. And controversy — and a lawsuit or two— has made this pie a part of Kentucky history. So eating a piece of this pie, you might say, is like eating a piece of history.

But we’d argue that this pie isn’t just famous because of some back and forth over a name. This pie is famous because it’s a downright delicious dessert that’s easy to whip up and pretty as you please to look at — especially with a dollop of bourbon whipped cream on top. Try it and let us know if you agree.

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As important as coffee is to people’s morning routines, there are ways to make it even more important. For example, you can buy fair-trade, organic coffee. You can also pick up coffee and related accessories that go the extra mile to give back to the greater good.

We’ve rounded up 10 gifts that will not only keep your fellow jittery brethren caffeinated, but will also guarantee that their daily fix goes towards a good cause.

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(Image credit: Antonio Marins)

From Apartment Therapy → We Asked 8 Real New Yorkers: Is a 50/20/30 Budget Realistic?

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This series is about wine in real life. We’ll show you what to drink no matter what you’re having, because we believe there’s always a wine that can show up and make your night.

There are nights when all you can muster the energy for is scrambling some eggs and calling it dinner. We all have these nights — they usually call for some wine too. Eggs aren’t the easiest food to pair with wine, but it can be done!

Eggs for dinner, wine to match — here’s what to grab at the store on your way home.

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Scandinavian Simplicity Meets Victorian Charm in East London

(Image credit: Viv Yapp)

This past winter I began lighting candles each night just before our small family of three sat down to dinner. It changed the way we eat. Even now in the long-lit days of a northern spring, a reminder to take a deep breath and lower our voices before lifting our forks does the same as the candles that once lit our table.

For years we slid into our chairs, fresh from email, homework, or feeding the dogs. We arrived at vaguely different times and jumped up and down to hastily get one more thing we’d forgotten. We continued, without pause even for breath, the conversations started in the kitchen or between the top and bottom of the staircase as we rushed to dole out the food. No, we never have screens at, or even near, our dinner. Yes, a good five out of seven nights we eat together as a family at the dining table. The food is usually homemade, carefully planned, and tuned into a whole globe of culinary traditions. But our last meal of the day was still missing something.

Then we met a family who did things a little differently.

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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

I’ve got a thing for nuggets of crispy chicken. Not necessarily chicken nuggets — although good ones can fall in this category — but chicken that’s been cut into chunks, is cooked until crispy, and takes well to eating in one or two bites. What can I say? I’m just looking for joy in the form of a salty, meaty, crunchy revelation.

When I came across this recipe in Jacques Pépin’s book, Poulets & Legumes: My Favorite Chicken and Vegetables Recipes, I was a little surprised. I remember scanning through the ingredients and method, getting more excited as I went on. Did I just find my ideal chicken nugget? All signs were pointing to a golden, crispy yes. There was no breading step, no deep-frying, and no mess required. Instead, this recipe promised everything my crispy-chicken-loving heart desired, with the help of a bit of Wondra flour and a nonstick skillet. Garlic and parsley are added at the end for one final flourish of flavor, but it was the method behind preparing the chicken that really got me.

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(Image credit: Iftach Gazit )

Multitaskers have a new way to increase their efficiency by washing a load of laundry while also cooking dinner. Thanks to Iftach Gazit, from Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, you may soon be able to repurpose your washing machine into your very own sous-vide machine. The new line of meals, although not ready for market, includes salmon with teriyaki sauce, mixed veggies in olive oil and garlic salt, and garlic-herb steak.

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