This may seem elemental to many of you, but we are constantly surprised by how many friends don't know how to use our simple, no-frills corkscrew. Blame it on the Rabbit and other easy-open wine contraptions.
This waiter's key corkscrew is all we've ever known — it's what waiters use tableside in restaurants. Below, our step-by-step instructions to using this inexpensive gadget...
Here's a mix of things I've tried (many times) and loved, things that are on my to-try list, and a couple of things I might never try—but are inspiring just the same.
We love a good gratin. Low-maintenance (great if you have a more complicated main dish to prepare), perfect for feeding a crowd, and topped with melted cheese (yea!). This one from chef Daniel Boulud uses swiss chard instead of the more expected vegetables, like potato or spinach.
This is truly the trinket for the person who has everything (or maybe just that lucky someone with a big batch of red walnuts from the farmers' market). But when we saw it, we thought it was an oh-so-lovely stocking stuffer that's practical, too. There's only one problem with the one pictured above.
Toast some slices of baguette in the oven, slap on a spread, and call it a night. We love any appetizer we can serve on toast rounds (crostini, if we're getting fancy). They're easy for guests to pick up and eat in one or two bites, and you can really make them out of anything—tapenade, thin slices of meat, cheese and a drizzle of honey, you name it. Here are 10 options that would be great for a holiday party.
We've given you many ideas for homemade holiday gifts that will help you spread cheer without spending a ton. But this one doesn't even involve cooking (you know, if you're short on money and time). Buy an inexpensive bottle of wine, remove the label, and stencil it.
Attention shoppers: Should you see a pile of bright cara cara oranges in the store, fill a basket. A big one. They make look like your average navels, but they've got a surprise—sweet, salmon-colored flesh that is about the most delicious thing we've eaten this week.
We spent a lot of time last year talking about throwing holiday dinner parties on a budget. There was this winter wonderland dinner from The New York Times, which prompted us to come up with our own $100 menu. Well, the theme is back—only this menu from Country Living serves 20 people.
When we get hungry while out shopping for gifts, we usually end up with an overpriced scone from Starbucks or something from the nearest drug store. Always unprepared! But we're trying to be proactive, which is why we've made a list of quick snacks that we can stash in a purse. As for that smoothie, above? One word: thermos.
Last summer, the summer of the New York Times Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, was the first time we read (or at least remembered reading) about adding sea salt to the tops of baked goods. Now we're old pros. Most recently, we've been sprinkling it on our toffee.
We know. Cleaning products- how sexy. We're not saying dishwashing liquid is for everybody, but we'd actually be delighted to get some pretty new scrubbers and soaps in our stockings. And think about it: Everyone has to clean up. Why not make the process smell better, feel better, look better? We've got ten cool items that are all eco-friendly. How's that for peace (and cleanliness) on Earth?
There's a very good reason our KitchenAid mixer is wearing a skirt.
Our love of brussels sprouts is well-documented on this site, but we're tired of them being relegated to a side dish. We wanted main dish brussels sprouts, which inspired us to create this easy pasta. The sprouts are sliced super thin, like little grassy green ribbons running through the noodles.
Hanukkah starts at sundown on Friday, December 11th, so for those of you celebrating, the planning/cooking may have already begun. We think making these marshmallow dreidels would keep kids occupied even longer than playing with an actual dreidel. That is, until they eat them. Get the instructions below.
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