We often cover Thanksgiving kids' tables as we start the holiday season, but here, we're taking a look at decorating a table for the little ones at Christmas dinner. There are lots of opportunities for fun here, so check it out: More

It's easy to find a luxurious cooking gift when you have $100 to spend, but how about when you have $20? Most cooks have a mental list of ingredients or tools they would love to have, but that are a little too expensive for everyday cooking. As dear as they may be to the recipient, these items usually make very reasonable gifts. Here are 15 small, indulgent gifts sure to be appreciated by the cooks on your shopping list — and they're all $30 and under. More

Eggnog is one of the decadent treats of the season, something I allow myself to have in the evening with a little brandy, or warmed with coffee in the morning. People have been making their own eggnog for decades, but did you know that some of these same folks actually age their nog anywhere from one month to one year? More

Get ready to file this away in your Ideas for Party Small Talk file, folks, because we're about to break it down: just how much gingerbread would it take to build a life-size gingerbread house? We know you've thought about it. A lot. Ok, fine. Maybe not a lot. Whatever. The point is, we have an answer. More

For much of the year, I have to limit my special purchases at the farmers' market to a jar of honey here and a bag of local nuts there. But this time of year, I go wild. I love giving locally-made foods to friends and family for the holidays. Not only does it support my favorite farmers and artisan producers, but I get to share a little piece of my corner of the globe with people who live far away. More

Shopping for new cooks is a real pleasure. There's so much excitement and optimism to work with! You could probably rattle off a list of must-haves in the kitchen (our Essentials posts do just that) but gifts for new cooks require a little more finesse. They should be practical, yet inspirational, something to not only outfit them for successful cooking, but also get them excited about doing it! In this gift guide we offer suggestions for essential and long-lasting tools that'll make cooking that much easier (a good chef's knife, a cast-iron skillet), as well as a few amped up basics (a jaw-dropping butcher block, a hand-carved wooden spoon) and specialty ingredients to entice them (high-quality olive oil and finishing salts).

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Q: I have a winter CSA from my local farm and I'm already overflowing with roots and squashes. I also have holiday parties coming up where bringing finger friendly food is encouraged. Any ideas for finger-food dishes with beets, potatoes, squash, carrots, parsnips, and turnips?

Sent by Marla More

Forget cheap chocolate. Forget Christmas ornaments. What about a advent calendar of delicious tasty craft beers?! Now this is the kind of advent calendar I can get behind. More

Q: We are having a casual holiday dinner party for friends and there will be 10-15 toddlers there. So I'm looking for recipes with a low mess potential (no chili or tomato sauce) that will appeal to both kids and adults, and are easy to eat while managing little ones. Any ideas? More

People who like kombucha really like kombucha! We probably all have at least one friend who can't seem to get through a day without downing a bottle. This holiday season, give them the gift that truly keeps on giving: a kit to brew batch after batch of their very own kombucha. More