An exceptionally well-wrapped gift is a double present. You are giving the gift of whatever your gift is, but you are also giving the gift of beauty; the gift of pleasure; the gift of joy. All presents are fun, but a beautifully packaged present is even more fun. Isn’t it nice, in a warm, sappy way, to let someone know that you care enough not only to give them something, but also to wrap it with little jingle bells on top? That is thoughtfulness; that is love.

And (on a less warm, sappy note), while it is true that gift-giving is not technically “a competition” (I mean, I guess), there is no denying that all else being equal, the prettier package wins.

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As we head into the deep throes of the holiday season — which is full of pies, hot chocolate, and other baking delights — the country suddenly faces a canned whipped cream shortage.

Chicago Tribune reports that the shortage is linked to an explosion at a Florida nitrous oxide plant in August. Nitrous oxide fuels the ejection of whipped cream from cans, and the explosion in Florida means that there is a pause of production of this essential component.

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Gluten-free baked goods can be as crave-worthy as their gluten-containing counterparts — you just have to know some of the more important rules when it comes to baking in this style. Familiarize yourself with these tips and tricks, then grab a recipe you trust and head to the kitchen to whip up some treats you can be proud of.

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If you count the days based on what you’re eating (Thursday is Wine Day, Friday is Cheese Day, and so on), it’s probably a good thing you don’t make calendars. No offense! But you might like one of these fun food-themed calendars for next year.

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It’s the end of 2016, which means everyone is rounding up what they thought was hot this past year and giving their predictions for the future. None of these might be as important, or interesting, as what Pinterest has to say. Food is the number-one reason people go to Pinterest, so they have a good sense of what people are saving and Pinning on their platform. With millions of ideas being added every day, Pinterest might have the best knowledge of what people want next.

Here are the top 10 recipes and ingredients that Pinterest has identified as being super trendy for 2017. Have you tried anything on this list?

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Our very own Maxwell Ryan worked with Mrs. Meyers to show off one of the most organized pantries out there. Whether you have an entire pantry or just a kitchen cabinet, these photos highlight three secret weapons that are a total must when it comes to keeping your ingredients — and other stuff — organized.

Here’s some food (storage) for thought.

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In America, there’s no place like home for the holidays. But all across Europe, the early months of winter bring locals out of their houses and into the streets to shop and stroll and taste seasonal treats at the holiday markets. In Prague, pork browns on a spit roast; in Copenhagen, Danes eat jam-filled ebelskiver doughnuts; and in Germany, they drink.

Nowhere are the libations as numerous — or as strong — as at a German Christkindlmarkt. Indeed, asking if Germany is the capital of winter drinking is like asking if cinnamon and clove are crucial to the winter months; or if bad wine is made better when it’s mulled on the stove; or if you should you add alcohol to delicious lattes you’re already drinking. The answer is clear: Ja, ja, a million times ja!

But you don’t need to travel all the way to Europe to feel extra festive this holiday season. Take a cue from the Christkindlmarkts and enjoy Germany in a mug. Here’s how.

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The first time I made granola with my now 5-year-old daughter, she wasn’t quite 2 years old. She wore an adorable little apron, had her own mixing spoon, and I picked out a “just the right size for this batch of granola” bowl for us to work in. Moments after starting our granola project, oats and maple syrup littered the floor, her step stool, and her hair. And that’s when I learned that when you’re cooking with young kids, you need a much bigger bowl than you think.

No, even bigger.

<p><a href=’http://www.thekitchn.com/cooking-with-kids-youre-going-to-need-a-bigger-bowl-238320′><strong>READ MORE »</strong></a></p>

Thank you for being a part of the Kitchn community!

We’ve created a year-end survey to help us better understand our readers. We always strive to provide the ultimate experience for our community. This survey will go a long way in helping us continue to do just that! Thank you in advance for your time.

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If you’re looking to add some pop, snap, and bubble to your holiday occasion, cava is pretty much always a good solution. Spain’s answer to Champagne can make the leap from office white elephant party to black-tie dinner party with aplomb. In fact, we’d argue cava is so versatile that you should just buy a case now.

But our favorite way to use cava this time of year is in punch. (Because what are the holidays without something fizzy, festive, and spiked?)

<p><a href=’http://www.thekitchn.com/why-cava-is-the-best-bubbly-for-punch-238367′><strong>READ MORE »</strong></a></p>