Until gathering all these recipes together, I didn't quite realize how far and wide we'd traveled this past year -- at least through our kitchens! We have a spicy noodle salad from Thailand and soft potato flatbreads from Norway. We learned how to stir-fry chicken in a wok and how to make stuffed grape leaves the traditional way. That's just the beginning! These are twenty recipes from all corners of the globe that you really have to try for yourselves. More

Creamed spinach is a classic, decadent side dish, but it also makes a fine nest for baked eggs. Despite its name, cream weighs down the spinach, so half-and-half or whole milk is a better choice. On the other hand, skim milk is puny, meager, and inadequate. Starting with fresh spinach requires an extra prep step, but the flavor and texture are so superior to frozen spinach that it's worth it. (You can make the creamed spinach the night before!) More

There were a few recipes that really flew under the radar this past year. Maybe their humble appearances didn't quite tell the whole story. Maybe the ingredients sounded a little too far out or too simplistic. Maybe the timing just wasn't quite right. Whatever the reason, we absolutely love these "sleeper" recipes and think they deserve a little more time in the lime light. More

These are the special recipes. The ones that are a little more indulgent, a little more complicated, and a little fancier than the ones we make on an average weeknight. They get an extra splash of cream and a sprinkle of parsley on top. Start planning your next dinner party now because here are our most favorite dishes and small bites for special occasions from this past year. More

My kitchen has been churning out brownies, baked goods, and layer cakes in mass quantity over the past two weeks, and boy have I been hankering for a savory reprieve. (You know it's bad when one more finger-lick of chocolate, even in the name of hot fudge sauce perfection, just might end in a sugar-induced coma.) Thank goodness white chicken chili seems to be the perfect baking overdose cure. More

Raise your hand if you're resolving to keep your fridge stocked with fresh ingredients and cook more meals at home this coming year. You're not alone! However, if you're feeling slightly intimidated by your resolution, Joanne Weir is here to help. Her latest cookbook is Cooking Confidence, and it will coach you through everything you need to put a fabulous dinner on the table. More

There are the meals you'll plan this holiday season, meals you shop for and anticipate coming out of the oven. And then there are the rest of the meals, the everyday dinners that can be a struggle to keep interesting. A quick solution: a simple, flavor-filled sauce. More

If you happen to be into chick flicks, which I am, then maybe you love the Christmas movie The Holiday as much as me? (Unfortunately I have to watch it alone, because it doesn't meet my fiancé's manly standards.) In one scene in particular, Kate Winslet offers to whip up some "Christmas fettuccine" for Jack Black, who is in need of some much-needed cheer. More

There are many reasons why having a quick holiday meal in your back pocket, so to speak, is handy this time of year. There are the folks who stop by unannounced, but more often than not, it's simply a crazy time of year and sometimes the simpler the meal, the better. More

If you've been wondering what to get your sassy best friend who cracks the raunchiest jokes at the party and cooks fabulous meals in her spare time, look no further. Fifty Shades of Chicken is a spoof on the best-selling novel Fifty Shades of Gray that replaces heroine Anastasia Steele with a big-breasted chicken and Christian Grey with the strong and competent hands of a very handsome chef. Yup, this cookbook definitely takes "hot and sultry" to a whole new level. More