Let's be totally honest here: The very best part of Christmas is the cookies, right? Getting in the kitchen and baking with my kids is one of my favorite traditions of the season. Of course, we can't choose just one, so we end up making …
Our dedicated readers know that I'm all about using healthy shortcuts to help me get my cooking done faster -- especially around the holidays when time is at a premium and I'd rather spend more time with my family than in the kitchen. I'…
I take the notion of store-bought shortcuts for home cooking very seriously. Because while scratch cooking is always my goal, hello, reality! Especially during the holidays when my to-do list is particularly long. So finding shortcuts in…
I've never been particularly shy about using butter, sugar, and eggs in my baked goods, but with the holiday baking season upon us, I figure a few healthy baking substitutes might be useful. No, I'm not talking about using birdseed, caro…
Roasting is the easiest way to prepare veggies this time of year (especially if you use our foolproof method for roasting vegetables ), but all alone, they can seem a little pedestrian for the holiday table. Which is why I use a secret w…
Sometimes people assume that because cooking is a part of my work, I must love everything about being in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that's not true. While I do love cooking and often find it relaxing, sometimes it can feel like a chore.…
Over the last few weeks it feels like every time I turn around, my kids show up with another candy cane. Even the referees at their basketball games were handing them out. To say that we have more than we could ever eat is an understatem…
You have enough on your plate finishing up Christmas shopping and planning your holiday meals. If you're also doing elf on the shelf, we tip our hats to you. And all while the kids are home from school! We know it's a busy time and want …
If you ever need a reminder of what the holidays are about, watch a child on Christmas morning. The excitement is palpable and the magic is real. I just want to soak it all in, but I also want a top-notch brunch to kick off the holiday. …
I love pies and, honestly, they are my first thought for any holiday dessert. But after that, at least for Christmas, it's all about cheesecake. Though I can't say it's the lightest way to end an already monumental meal, there's somethin…
If you live in fear of the cold the way that I do, here are two reasons to embrace it: mulled cider and wine. The scent of cider or wine mingling with cinnamon, cloves, citrus, and other wintry spices is enough to warm up even the coldes…
We are all for Christmas cookie gifts around here! Whether you want to bring a tasty treat as a hostess gift or plan to make a giant batch of your famous sugar cookies to give out to all your friends and your kids' teachers, I've found s…
There's something about toffee that is irresistible. Maybe it’s all the different ways it can be baked and devoured: As a crisp, buttery candy, a melt-in-your-mouth chew, or a gooey, rich sauce. Or maybe it's just butter + sugar. Either …
Homemade pie crust: Three simple words that strike fear into the hearts of many home cooks, including myself until 2 weeks ago. I must confess that I have always been a firm believer in store-bought pie crusts. They are easy and taste, w…
You just got invited to a cookie swap and you really want to go, because cookies. But you are also crazy busy (and maybe a little stressed out?) with work, kids’ parties, holiday gatherings, gift shopping and, oh, you know, all the other…
Hanukkah is a lovely holiday for many reasons and, as an inveterate foodie, I count the tradition of eating fried foods among them. I in no way mean to make light of the holiday, but I look forward to jelly donuts and latkes every Hanukk…
There's still plenty of time to get ahead of your holiday cooking (our Thanksgiving cooking schedule can help!) but, let's be honest, no matter how well you prep, cooking a Thanksgiving meal can be stressful the day of. The more you can …
With baking season around the corner, it’s time to (finally!) get a handle on how to properly store baked goods. With the right moves, you can bake your treats ahead of time and still serve up fresh pies, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and …