Cheese balls have a bad reputation, probably because they often look (and taste) like they belong in the pages of a faded food magazine from the 1970s. But with the right ingredients and some updated styling, these make-ahead party appetizers can be a modern twist on the usual cheese plate. More

What could better than butter? Brown butter, of course! Its warm, nutty flavor complements some of fall's best produce, like butternut squash, sage and apples, and adds a new dimension to sweets like shortbread cookies and ice cream. Whether you're a brown butter newbie or an old pro, we've gathered all the tutorials and tips you need, as well as some inspiring recipes, both savory and sweet. More

Sometimes shaking up the routine is good. Replacing the typical square of chocolate for dessert with a few ripe figs or a bowl of really good ice cream. Or something just a bit richer. Meet the chocolate pot. More

It's that time of year again when we get to throw costume parties, eat copious amounts of store-bought snack size candy, and dress inappropriately — all in the name of Halloween. Halloween happy hours can be as serious or sweet as you like them. A few years back, as a guest on NBC's TODAY show, I had the chance to sip and shake with the authentic George Lucas-endorsed Yoda, Chewbacca and C-3PO, which for sci-fi nerds is about as serious as Halloween can get. Each year NBC's TODAY pulls out all the stops for the Halloween show, so it was no wonder the drinks followed suit. More

The other night, contemplating how best to discuss cheese within the confines of our pasta-themed week at The Kitchn, I envisioned a cheddar-laden dish. Forget the parm or the pecorino, I thought. How would cheddar be in pasta?

The answer, I can assure you, is worthy of a writeup. As is the recipe, which makes cheddar sing. More

Q: I sent my husband to our local bulk warehouse store for a few ingredients, and he came home with a HUGE container of cream cheese....for the two of us. We are on a low-sugar diet, so I don't want to make desserts. Do you have any suggestions for savory dishes that use cream cheese?

Sent by Emma More

I'm not done talking about the wedding I went to last weekend. The couple and their families made nearly all of the food themselves. That's right, no caterers.

That is, except for the grilled cheese. More

In the past we've looked at a few more refined versions of potato soup. There has been a creamy curried potato soup, a sweet potato soup with miso and ginger, and a roasted garlic and potato soup. But I'm not as polished as the rest of our Kitchn writers. See, this Midwestern girl wants her meat and potatoes and she doesn't always want them to be fancied up — well, unless you consider bacon fancy. More

One painful fact of life is that no cheese melts into a smooth, creamy nacho sauce as well as processed cheese. But wait! The people at Modernist Cuisine have discovered a simple trick for emulsifying your favorite Gruyère or aged cheddar into a smooth sauce to rival Velveeta's. More

Trust me, I'll take a big slice of pizza topped with gooey mozzarella any day of the week and twice on Tuesday. I love it so much that it's easy to make pizzas with nothing but mozzarella. Sometimes I need a reminder that there are other cheeses out there. Here are five of my favorites. More