Know someone who is just getting into bread baking? Set them up in style! This guide has everything a beginning baker could dream of, from sourdough starters and proofing baskets to three cookbooks that are a baking education in themselves. More

One of the foods I most long for from my childhood bopping around Jewish delicatessens in New York and Los Angeles is the humble bowl of matzo ball soup: a mountain of tender dumplings surrounded by rich stock and not much else.

As a child I would nibble each tender spoonful, carefully whittling down my knaidel (as "matzo ball" is called in Yiddish). I felt comforted and loved, not from my grandmother's kitchen, but by those fascinating, mostly ancient, servers who dished it up. Over 20 years ago, my darling nanny and I attempted to make this soup at home. How'd we do with this highly regarded (and oh so controversial!) dish? Did I change up the original recipe? More

There are those holiday parties that you anticipate with glee, for which you buy a special sparkly dress to wear and pick up a fine bottle of wine to bring. And then there are those holiday parties that you would give anything to ditch if you could. Assuming we all want to be throwing the former kind of party rather than the latter, what do you think makes a truly great holiday party? More

Q: I need help from The Kitchn readers: I'm looking for suggestions for homemade holiday gifts.

Every year I make a special gift for my friends to say "You're awesome. Happy holidays!" In the past I've made homemade tea breads, hot chocolate on a stick with homemade marshmallows, three kinds of roasted nuts, a variety of cookies, and homemade seasoned salts. This year I'm looking for some new creative ideas.

Criteria: has to be edible and homemade (not cheating and mixing from a box!), and able to be prepared ahead and stored for at least a week. Any good creative ideas out there? Thanks!

Sent by Rebecca More

Growing up on the coast of Southern California, I was pretty far removed from my father's native Brooklyn neighborhood. However my Mississippi-born mother made sure to close some of that distance with one delicious Jewish recipe she adapted from her mother-in-law. Savory noodle kugel is as comforting and cozy as it gets. More

The best gifts come from the kitchen, don't you think? I don't just mean just gifts wrapped up under the tree — I mean all the little gifts sprinkled through the holiday season. The gift you give a favorite teacher, or hand out to a group of coworkers over lunch. The gift you bring your aunt hosting Christmas Eve dinner, and the gift you leave on your neighbor's front porch. These treats and snacks are like little bundles of affection and love scattered through the holidays — and these are gifts that come from the kitchen.

Here are 10 of our all-time favorite treats for gifting, sweet and savory. More

Gingerbread men, nut horns, frosted sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, peppermint candy cane cookies, those cocoa ones with the cherry in the middle whose name I can never remember. I love them all, equally and without reservation. I'd make them all if I could, too! What holiday cookies do you absolutely have to have every December? Any new ones this year? More

The holiday table: For some of us, it's just there to hold the food and the wineglasses; throw a tablecloth on and call it a day. Others of us look forward to decking the table out with food and pretty decorations! Where do you fall? How are you setting your Thanksgiving table, and do you enjoy it? Or does it stress you out? More

Many people have strong opinions about mints, especially those of the wedding variety. But those who have either been on the fence or a little shy about them — you've never had a real, melt-in-your-mouth butter mint. Bonus: they're easily customizable for any party and a snap to make! More

After the fanfare and drama of Thanksgiving dinner, we feel like Christmas and Hanukkah meals with the family can be slightly more relaxed affairs. At least in terms of the food! There are traditional dishes, to be sure, but we find there’s also a lot more room to play around. What will be on your holiday table this year? More