12 Snack Box Ideas for Lunch, School, or the Road
12 real snack box ideas for lunch, school, and road trips, plus the exact bento boxes, containers, and bags that make them work.
11 Dorm and First-Apartment Kitchen Essentials That Actually Get Used
The kitchen essentials you actually need for a first apartment or dorm are one good nonstick pan, a stockpot-sized pot, a sharp knife, a cutting board, nesting mixing bowls, stackable storage containers, and a couple of appliances picked around what your space actually allows.
12 Gifts for Coffee Lovers Who Already Own a Fancy Machine
The best gifts for coffee lovers who already own a nice espresso machine or pour-over setup are the accessories, beans, and tools that upgrade the ritual, not another machine or mug. Here are 12 real picks, from a calibrated tamper to a curated coffee gift basket.
Avocado Citrus Salad (The Winter Salad That Doesn’t Taste Like Punishment)
Avocado citrus salad done right: segmented oranges, ripe avocado, peppery arugula, and a light vinaigrette. My tested fixes for browning and bitter pith included.
Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail Punch
A non alcoholic cranberry cocktail for a crowd is cranberry juice, orange juice, and ginger ale or sparkling water poured over a frozen cranberry ice ring instead of regular ice cubes, so the punch stays cold without turning watery. I make this one every time I’m hosting more than six people, because a pitcher of
Make-Ahead Antipasto Skewers That Don’t Turn to Mush
The best make ahead skewer appetizers use firm, well-dried ingredients threaded in an order that keeps the wettest piece, usually mozzarella, near the top and added last, with any dressing held back until right before serving. I have brought soggy antipasto skewers to a party exactly once, and the memory still makes me wince a
The Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Casserole Everyone Fights Over
The easiest Christmas breakfast recipes are the ones you build the night before, and a hash brown sausage and egg casserole is the one that gets the whole table fed while you’re still in your pajamas. I used to think a big holiday breakfast meant getting up at 6 a.m. to stand over a skillet
Cranberry Ginger Fizz Mocktail
A cranberry ginger ale mocktail that isn’t too tart or too sweet, made with real ginger beer, fresh lime, and a trick that keeps it from watering down.
Ham and Cheese Tortilla Pinwheels, No Oven Required
Ham and cheese tortilla roll ups are a no-bake appetizer made by spreading a flour tortilla with seasoned cream cheese, layering it with deli ham and sliced cheese, rolling it up tight, chilling it, and slicing it into rounds. I make these more than almost anything else in my snack rotation, mostly because nothing gets
Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries & Pecans
Wild rice stuffing with cranberries is a side dish made by simmering wild rice in stock until the grains split and go tender, then baking it with sautéed onion and celery, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and fresh herbs until the top turns golden. I make some version of this every year starting in October, long
14 Back-to-School Lunch and Snack Ideas That Aren’t Boring
The best back to school snacks pair a protein or fat with something crunchy or sweet, so kids stay full longer. Here are 14 snack combos, lunchbox ideas, and make-ahead tricks that actually work, plus the gear worth buying.
No-Weep Deviled Eggs You Can Actually Make a Day Ahead
Yes, you can make deviled eggs up to two days ahead of time, as long as you store the hard-boiled whites and the yolk filling separately and don’t pipe them together until an hour or so before serving. I learned this the embarrassing way. I once assembled a full tray of deviled eggs the night
Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Goat cheese mashed potatoes are made by mashing boiled Yukon Gold potatoes with warm butter and cream, then folding in softened goat cheese off the heat, using about 4 ounces of cheese per 2 pounds of potatoes so the tang stays in the background instead of taking over. I love goat cheese, but the first
Poinsettia Cocktail (Is It Just a Christmas Mimosa?)
A poinsettia cocktail is cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and sparkling wine, and the cranberry base batches perfectly the night before. The ratio I use, why it isn’t quite a Christmas mimosa, and how to scale it for a crowd without losing the bubbles.
Spiked Hot Chocolate (Make the Batch the Night Before)
Spiked hot chocolate you batch the night before: a real melted-chocolate cocoa base, the spirit stirred in ahead, reheated on the stove or in a slow cooker, with toppings added only at serving.