Don’t be embarrassed. You can admit it: You’ve indulged in a little drunk online shopping. I know I have. The perfect time to shop is actually after a couple cocktails. Your inhibitions are lower, and it’s easier to convince yourself that you deserve the expensive appliance you’ve had your eye on for months. Plus, you can find anything your heart desires from the comfort of your couch, now that the internet is just one big shopping mall. A recent survey, however, claims that there are some drinkers who are prone to spending more money online shopping than others.

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Costco is a reliable go-to for just about everything in life, including fabulous things like Wagyu beef, diamonds, and caviar. In fact, for a little while now Costco has been stocking serrano ham (prosciutto’s Spanish cousin), and based on how quickly it flies off the shelf, it would be the jewel of any holiday table.

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Do you have a bonus fridge or freezer? My family was just gifted a standing freezer for our garage, and I have daydreams of it stacked with organized bins of grab-and-go breakfasts, homemade ice cream, and prepared slow cooker meals.

I’m starting to fill it with casseroles that I can prep on Sunday afternoon and that can be halved — one portion being eaten that evening and the other frozen for future eating. After a few short weeks I’ll have a stash of casseroles that can save me on busy weeknights. Here are 10 casseroles that I’m starting with — all of them freeze well and can be easily split for eating now and on a busy weeknight.

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When it comes to top-notch restaurants, head chefs often rack up the attention and acclaim. But ask anyone who has worked behind the scenes in restaurants and they’ll tell you: The cooks are the ones who make the kitchen run.

They know how to peel 100 potatoes while simultaneously boiling perfectly al dente pasta. They’re hyper-organized and efficient, and their demanding workload combined with their desire to prepare perfect food means they have some seriously valuable cooking tricks up their sleeves.

I know this because I was lucky enough to spend several years working in professional kitchens — and learned some of my best, ultra-practical cooking tricks from the mentors and coworkers I met in them. They taught me how to work smarter (not necessarily harder!) and many of the tips and techniques they taught me I still use today in my home kitchen. Here are 12 of them.

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Dutch ovens can get pretty pricey — especially the ones from iconic brands like Le Creuset and Staub. While many people dream about having a complete set that’ll rival a display at Williams Sonoma, it’s just not practical without a bottomless bank account. And that’s okay! Because you really can get by with just one — as long as you’re smart when you shop for it.

If you’re only going to have one Dutch oven, here’s how big (and what shape) it should be.

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While you can make your own pumpkin purée, most of us turn to the canned variety at least a few times during this season. And inevitably, it always seems like no matter what you make, there’s always going to be leftovers. Here are some ideas for using up that last half cup (or less!) of pumpkin purée.

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As we make the transition from fall into winter, the desire for extra-comforting soups that warm us up from the inside out is stronger than ever. Consider this your playbook for the season. These 10 soup recipes are a mix of classics, like French onion and broccoli cheddar, and new favorites, like cheesy lasagna. They’re all well worth being added to your dinner roster in the chilly months ahead.

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I’ve always seen breakfast as just an excuse to eat more potatoes. I’ll skip sweets, like pancakes and waffles, and dive straight into the savory section of a restaurant menu, usually ordering a dish because it’s served with potatoes. If you’re a breakfast potato fiend like me, these dishes are sure to help start your morning right.

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If you’ve ever scrolled through Facebook, checked emails, or searched for the perfect playlist on your phone will sitting down at dinner, please, please stop. Beyond being just a little bit rude to your partner or your kids, it’s straight-up unhygienic.

Think about it: You carry that phone with you all day long, and handle it without thinking after you touch a subway pole, pull cash out of your pocket for coffee, or pull open the door to the bathroom. If you, like the average American, handle your phone 47 times a day, I’m going to guess that you don’t always wash your hands before you touch it. And that means all of the bacteria that your hands encounter in those germy spots goes straight from your fingers to your phone. Yikes!

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If slow cooker drop dinners are not part of your meal plan, I want you to know that you’re really missing out. These easy toss-and-go meals require little to no prep and are the answer to my prayers (and everyone else’s!) for a dinner that cooks itself.

If you’re not yet acquainted with drop dinners, they’re just what they sound like: Drop the ingredients into the cooker, plop on the lid, and hours later you’ve got a warm, satisfying dinner. It really is that easy. Here are 10 favorites to get you started.

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