10 Thank You Gifts for All the People Who Helped You This Year — The Kitchn’s 2015 Holiday Gift Guide

What do you get the friend who spent three hours listening to you vent after a particularly hard day? What about your neighbor who not only watered all your plants while you were on vacation, but fertilized them, too? And don’t forget about your aunt, who came to town just to clean your house when you were so sick you could barely get out of bed. (And in fact, you didn’t. For days.)

It’s alarming to think where we’d be without the small, surprising, and often unfailingly generous help given to us by friends and loved ones. Here are 10 little ways you can thank them this season — and add something pretty or fun to their kitchen in the process!

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I Don’t Know How to Feel About This Campbell’s Commercial — Technology at the Table

Campbell’s new “Real Real Life” ad campaign got people talking with its commercial featuring two gay dads feeding soup to their son, but to me, there is nothing complicated about that particular spot. It just makes me feel good.

No, there is a Campbell’s commercial that brings up feelings that are much more complex and uncomfortable. It’s called “Phones” — have you seen it?

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Recipe: Cider-Chai Syrup — 5 Food Gift Recipes from Maggie Battista

Apples and chai spices are a likely combination and work gloriously, especially when enjoyed in front of a fire. Add 2 tablespoons to a cup 
of boiled water for a drink that warms you. Add 1 tablespoon whiskey for a makeshift hot toddy that also warms you — perhaps even a bit more. Process these jars in a water bath to preserve the goodness for gifting all year.

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5 Important Things to Know About Baking in an Electric Oven — Tips from The Kitchn

While electric stovetops certainly have their share of frustrations, electric ovens generally get a thumbs-up all around when it comes to baking. They provide steady heat for even cooking and a dry environment that helps turn the tops of our Saturday morning muffins a lovely golden-brown. Even so, there are a few important tricks you might like to know to get the most from your electric oven.

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10 Quick Tips for Saving Money on Groceries — The Smart Shopper

The holiday season always tempts me a little toward excess. It might be the year-end bonus or all the fun food in the stores or simply a desire to celebrate that sways me toward letting go and splurging a little more than we need to.

Over the last couple days I’ve been reminding myself that going “whole hog” this season is not going to help us meet long-term goals. “Eat, drink, and be merry” doesn’t pay for that trip to Scotland. Since I want to eat, drink, and be merry in Scotland, I’m pulling my budget cap a little tighter on my head.

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5 Things Aziz Ansari Gets So Right About Food in Master of None — Food on TV

In early November, Netflix released all 10 episodes of Aziz Ansari’s new show, “Master of None.” As I binge-watched the show’s brilliant inaugural season, I was delighted by its deft handling of topics like race, gender, relationships, family, and of course, food.

Not only does Ansari give plenty of shout-outs to some of the best bars and restaurants in New York City, but he also expertly weaves underlying truths about today’s food culture into almost every episode. Here are five things “Master of None” gets so right about food.

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Recipe: Graham Cracker Toffee — 5 Food Gift Recipes from Maggie Battista

A traditional holiday treat, graham cracker toffee recipes have been passed between families for generations. It’s less toffee and more a delicious hack of graham crackers, butter, and sugar. A dear girlfriend gave me a batch of this toffee, along with the recipe, years ago. In that simple act, she fueled years of effortless holiday food gifts for my friends and family. I slip a few pieces — because a little goes a long way — into my cookie boxes during the winter holidays. They’re always the first treats gobbled up.

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