The Best Foods to Donate to Food Banks During the Holidays — Expert Interview

In the United States, one in seven people struggles with hunger, and many rely on food from local food banks to help feed their families. The holiday season is an especially difficult time to live with food insecurity — that is, not knowing when you will get your next meal — and many of us think about making food donations to local food banks at this time of year.

But what types of donations help most? And what kinds of food should you avoid donating? I spoke with representatives from food banks around the U.S. to find out the best ways to help hungry families in your community.

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date, feta and red cabbage salad

date, feta and red cabbage salad

Sara Jenkins is famous for making the Italian roasted pork street food known as porchetta trendy in New York. She’s also known for her way with pasta (and has a new book out with her famed food writer mom celebrating it). She’s had turns at a handful of great Italian restaurants in New York, earning them stars and accolades and has written at length for The Atlantic about Italian food. And almost all I ever want to talk about here? Her salads.

what we'll use
very thinly sliced red cabbage

I can’t help it — they’re riveting, and while I will forever love roasted pork and pasta, in my life, nothing fills the inspiration deficit that accumulates from the daily repetition of cooking that real life requires like chefs that have a way with vegetables — ways we can take back home and eat food we’re more excited about. It began the first time we went to Porsena nearly 5 years ago, when I fell in love with a green bean salad busy with pickled onions, fried almonds, thinly sliced fennel and celery, which I’m of the opinion never gets enough praise. Crunchy and bright, I became obsessed and made it again and again at home. Last week, we were back for an early Sunday night dinner with our menagerie of mini-humans (fine, just two, but it feels like a lot!) and the giant shells with kale pesto were excellent, my son’s thousand-layer deeply broiled duck lasagna was otherworldly, my husband has nothing but good things to say about the linguine with clams, but the only thing I spent the next week babbling on about was the salad I had with dates, feta and radicchio.

bulgarian feta, our favorite

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The 5 Things I’m Buying Now to Get Ready for Holiday Hosting — The Hospitable Host

From now until the end of the year, our homes can feel like one giant swinging door, with family and friends shuffling in and out for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and holiday parties. If you’re hosting, you have to think about cooking, cleaning, and those little things that make guests feel awesome. That’s a lot to handle — which is why realizing at the last minute that you’re out of toilet paper is enough to send even the calmest host over the edge. (I believe “ARGH!” is the going phrase at that point.)

I know I’m never going to be able to plan for every possible contingency, but at least I can be somewhat prepared by stocking up on these five things now.

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10 Rules for Organizing Your Fridge When You Have Roommates — Living with Roommates

No matter how long you’ve done it or how many different people you’ve lived with over the years, sharing storage space is one of the most challenging parts of living with roommates. The refrigerator can be especially tricky territory.

If you’re currently navigating a roommate refrigerator situation, here’s some advice on how to keep it organized and keep the peace.

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14 Chicken Pasta Dinners for Cozy Weeknights — Recipes from The Kitchn

Want an easy way to up your weeknight dinner routine?

Take two heavy hitters in your weekly rotation, chicken and pasta, and bring them together for one meal that’s cozy and satisfying. From pasta bakes and casseroles, to a ragù and skillet meals, dinnertime is about to get even more delicious with these 14 chicken pasta recipes that will leave everyone with happy stomachs.

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