Why Do We Drink Eggnog at Christmas? — Food History

Why do we drink eggnog? The question vexed me for years. Eggnog? The weird yellow Yuletide drink featuring eggs and sometimes booze? The mysterious stuff that retired people in movies swill by the fireside on frozen nights? The creamy concoction that comes in cartons where corn syrup is known to bat second or third in the ingredient lineup? A drink where 50 percent of the letters are g?

READ MORE »

Recipe: Loaded Cheesy Cauliflower Bake — Recipes from The Kitchn

If you’ve never met a loaded baked potato you didn’t like, you’re about to meet your new favorite dinner casserole. It’s inspired by loaded potatoes, but calls for roasted cauliflower as the base. The florets are drenched in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, mixed with plenty of crispy bacon bits and chopped scallions, and baked until bubbly and golden.

READ MORE »

How To Make a Foolproof Quiche — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

If you haven’t had quiche lately, it is time to remedy that situation. I could eat quiche for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without ever growing tired of it, but quiche is an especially good dish for a big brunch or other casual gathering. You make it the day ahead, slice it just before serving, and then pass out the plates. This foolproof recipe has yet to disappoint.

READ MORE »

The $5 Target Find That Makes Hand-Washing Dishes A Million Times Better — Shopping

There’s a reason I’ve been living in the same apartment for nearly five years. My studio apartment is in a great location, has plenty of storage for all my stuff (read: two closets!), and even boasts a cute outdoor space, which I admittedly don’t use as much as I should.

I love my apartment, but of course, no home is perfect. My space has a bulky, built-in media center and a mini fridge instead of a full-sized one (really). But perhaps my apartment’s biggest offense is its lack of a dishwasher.

READ MORE »

These Are Our Favorite Holiday Sangria Recipes of All Time — Recipes from The Kitchn

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, having an easy, crowd-pleasing, big-batch recipe in your back pocket is key — especially when it’s a cocktail. A pitcher of sangria will win over any crowd, and guests can serve themselves, meaning you don’t have to play bartender all night. Here are our 11 favorite holiday sangrias, ready for any and all wintertime festivities.

READ MORE »

Next Week’s Meal Plan: Our Top 10 Plans of the Year — Next Week’s Meal Plan

Over the last few years, we’ve published more than 120 meal plans from our own Kitchn editors and contributors alike. There’s a lot to be gleaned from those meal plans and how you’ve incorporated them into your own meal planning and meal prep in that time.

This week, instead of a classic meal plan — because, let’s be honest, with a holiday ahead meal planning is taking a backseat — we’re rounding up the 10 most popular Next Week’s Meal Plans from the whole year. Let these serve as inspiration as you head into winter break or set a goal to meal plan more in the new year.

READ MORE »

Use This Method For Perfect Cut-Out Cookies Every Time — Tips from The Kitchn

Holiday baking season is in full swing — which means it’s time for sugar cookies in all sorts. But how to make pretty cookies that hold their shape, without spending the whole day mixing, chilling, and rolling? Here’s the easiest and best way to save time and make the most perfect-looking cookies. It’s all in the chilling. Here’s how to do it.

READ MORE »

10 Frostings That’ll Make Any Chocolate Cake Taste Even Better — Baking with Chocolate

Ganache! Buttercream! Whipped Cream! Frostings are something that get me excited about cake, because they (along with a few sprinkles) turn any cake into a celebration. Whether you’re baking a chocolate Bundt cake, a chocolate pound cake, or, my personal favorite, chocolate sheet cake, here are 10 frostings that upgrade classic chocolate cake to something unique and special to celebrate anytime.

READ MORE »

Our Most Popular Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes — Slow Cooker Recipes from The Kitchn

There really is nothing the slow cooker can’t do. This year it became my go-to for working even more meatless recipes into my meal plan — and many of our readers seemed to do the same. And that makes sense, because the slow cooker is a natural fit for beans and legumes, ultra-hearty vegetables, slow-simmered stews, veggie pot pie, and so much more. Here were our most popular vegetarian slow cooker recipes of the year.

READ MORE »

Recipe: Dorie Greenspan’s Classic Jammer Cookies — Dorie’s Cookies

If you made me choose a favorite cookie from Dorie Greenspan, I’d have to plead the Fifth. There are far too many delights to choose from — beginning with those classic, chocolatey World Peace Cookies to these Jammers. But if I had to pick a favorite Dorie Greenspan cookie story, this one would be it. Because these cookies — made with a vanilla sablé dough, topped with thick jam, surrounded by tender, crumbly streusel — came to Dorie in a dream. And I can’t think of anything more marvelous than that.

READ MORE »