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Additional Articles/Posts by Allison Beck

  • 8 Horrifying Wedding Cakes
    The image of a wedding cake is usually a towering creation covered in white curlicues of buttercream frosting, sugared flowers, and perhaps even white fondant spray-painted blue, a nod to the ocean for that seaside summer wedding. Not a cake topped with...

  • A New Take on Supper Clubs
    You're new to a city and don't know anyone, but forget heading to the bar to bond with sports fans while catching the game — sports teams aren't your style. You'd rather get lost in conversation over a bowl of ramen or while making...

  • 9 People You Don't Want Around the Table
    While hosting a dinner party might seem as easy as inviting a group of people you enjoy spending time with, putting a delicious meal on the table, and stocking the bar completely (which is sure to guarantee a good time for some...), a great party is more...

  • 11 Great Gifts for Food-Loving Valentines
    Heart-patterned pajamas. Pink and red flowers. A box of chocolates from the drugstore. If you're left feeling uninspired by the traditional Valentine's Day gifts, look no further. We've rounded up a list of eleven gift ideas to ensure that...

  • The Perfect Cookie Decorating Party
    They're the kinds of cookies that inspire many of us to decorate cookies at home with friends and family, no matter the time of year. The menageries of animal sugar cookies "marching" around an ark-inspired cake for a child's birthday,...

  • Are You Too Old to Host a BYOB Party?
    When hosting a party, a 27-year old young professional might not even think twice about asking friends to BYOB. But should a 50-year-old with a solid job and a house (and perhaps a family)? This modern-day quandary had us thinking, when are you too old to...

  • How Chefs Entertain at Home
    We recently discovered the massive, two-volume Notes From a Kitchen. A book this is not — it's a photographic journey through the kitchens of some of the nation's most well-loved chefs, including former Jean Georges' pastry...

  • The Perfect Kids' Party
    For children, birthdays are akin to Christmas. It’s their special day out of the remaining 364 when everything revolves around them. Perhaps there is breakfast in bed, certainly presents. And then there is the party, where, for a couple of hours,...

  • Famous Food Scenes From the Movies
    There are a number of dinner parties that have inspired movies — take, for example, the feast in Switzerland that inspired Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Or perhaps the dinners Julie Powell created in her small Queens apartment in Julie and...

  • 14 Fast-Food Dinner Party Fixes
    No matter how many dinner or cocktail parties you have hosted, there may come a time when you need a little help in the kitchen. Say you’re throwing a dinner party for 12 and plan to making chicken burritos from scratch. There is rice to cook,...

  • 10 Ways to Make Entertaining Easy
    There is no reason why a busy family schedule, late nights at the office, or a whirlwind series of business trips should cramp your entertaining style (or lack thereof, even). Sitting down to a meal or even a beer or glass of tea doesn't have to be...

  • How the Queen of Etiquette Has Changed
    It's been just seven years since the last update of Etiquette, Emily Post's go-to resource on social conduct. The 18th Edition of this good-behavior bible is quite different in both appearance and content than the dark blue tome from 1922 that...

  • Is It Tacky to Gift a Restaurant Gift Card?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an...

  • 13 Worst Super Bowl Party Fouls
    It's the day football fans live for — Super Bowl Sunday. With Super Bowl XLVI coming to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium for the very first time this year, it'll be a particularly memorable celebration. Plus, it's a great excuse...

  • Easy Party Buffet Ideas
    When it comes to feeding a crowd, build-your-own bars can be a lifesaver. If dining with the family, the fun factor is instantly upped when kids are given the chance to make their own salad by adding their pick of toppings onto the lettcue, or are allowed...

  • 11 Super Bowl Party Essentials
    The Super Bowl is one of the year's best reasons to throw an unforgettable party, and of course, good food and drink matter just as much as watching your beloved team compete on the field. Click here for the 11 Must-Have Items for Your Super Bowl...

  • 12 Party Tips From Professionals
    Throwing great parties is an event planner's job. And when planning hundreds of soirées a year, there is no doubt that an event planner has experienced both great successes and significant stumbles. Last year, we rounded up a group of 50...

  • What to Do When You’re Not Invited
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an...

  • How to Avoid Resorting to Takeout
    Cooking something for family dinner every night instead of ordering takeout can not only save money, but it will also likely encourage more nutritious choices, as it puts you in control of exactly what goes into each dish you serve up. Click here for the...

  • A Winning Golden Globes Viewing Party
    When Nicole Kidman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Clive Owen, and Natalie Portman take the stage for the Hollywood Foreign Press' Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 15, many eyes will be on what they are wearing, and most will look out for the crazy moments that...

  • 10 Healthy Party Food Makeovers
    Cocktail parties can be a minefield of temptation for dieters. There are the spreads of rich cheeses and candied nuts; buffet tables filled with chips, dips, and cheesy nachos; then of course, the trays filled with one-bite treats like pigs-in-a-blanket,...

  • When Is a Wedding Gift Not Necessary?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an...

  • Make Time for a Family Dinner
    Dining with the family is about more than just the food. In between work, running the household, school, after-school activities, and then homework, finding time to sit down for a home-cooked meal with the family can be challenging. But with research...

  • 8 Healthy Party Ideas
    Whether you overindulged in too many glasses of egg nog and helpings of Christmas cookies over the holidays or are simply looking to start the new year off right with a new exercise and healthy eating regime, don’t think you have to lock up the...

  • Who Hosts the Better Tailgate, Alabama or LSU?
    When it comes to college football, tailgaters put as much training and practice into their "performance" as athletes do to ensure they're at their prime on the field. For college football powerhouses the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU...

  • Throw a Dinner Party Like They Do in 'Downton Abbey'
    When setting the table for dinner with the family, you're likely to reach for paper towels and perhaps those laminated place mats that your children made in kindergarten — not your finest linens, crisply ironed, and polished silver candlesticks...

  • Healthy Ideas for Easy Family Meals
    It’s 5:30 p.m. You’re exhausted from a day at the office. Both you and the kids are hungry, but you are too crunched for time (not to mention low on energy) to prepare a home-cooked meal. Sound familiar? In a last-ditch effort for food, some...

  • 10 Party-Going Tips for Dieters
    With offerings like baked brie and champagne during cocktail hour and red wine-braised short ribs and cheesy potato gratin at dinner, the willpower to stick to your diet often flies out the window as soon as you arrive at a party. Click here for the 10...

  • Fabio Viviani’s Dream Date Night
    It’s date night at Top Chef alum Fabio Viviani’s house. And what does this Italian stallion have up his sleeve to impress his date? A seven-course meal, complete with wine pairings. “I’d then pair each course with a different...

  • 9 Tabletop Trends for 2012
    Nobody wants to be behind the times when it comes to style. From what we wear to what we eat, knowing what’s “in” matters. As our minds never drift far from what trendy essentials to have when bringing together friends and family, we...

  • Kim Kardashian’s Event Planner’s Top Party Tips
    Imagine you’re at a pool party, frozen cocktail in hand, standing by the edge of the pool chatting with friends. All of a sudden, a trio of synchronized swimmers, wearing '50s retro-style swimsuits and embellished swim caps, emerges and performs...

  • Decline a Party Invite Without Insulting Your Host
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • Rules for Regifting
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • The Perfect Cheese Board
    Many consider a spread of cheese to be the ultimate party snack offering. It’s fancier than chips and salsa, but about just as easy to assemble. With thousands of cheeses out there, it’s hard to repeat the same thing. And with additions like...

  • Party Supplies Everyone Should Have
    Some say a party isn’t a party without good food or drink. OK, we’re not about to disagree, as our kitchen is stocked with all sorts of shelf-stable party snacks, like cocktail nuts, red wine, and puff pastry in the freezer. But what many...

  • 15 Worst Holiday Party Fouls
    It’s a familiar scene: Uncle Jack had two too many ‘nogs and somehow fell into the tree and knocked it off its base, and Ms. Loose-Lips divulged the truth about Santa to the kids. But getting in the holiday spirit doesn’t have to mean...

  • Top Tips for the Perfect Holiday Toast
    The holiday season is finally here. Along with Christmas trees, so too come holiday parties and family meals where raising a glass is customary. But if you’re like me, speaking in public (even if it’s my extended family) makes my stomach flip...

  • Do I Have to Bring a Hostess Gift and a Holiday Present?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • 10 Toasts From Around the World
    When a host hands you a glass of bubbly, there's rarely concern that the liquid in hand will cost you your life. Yet, in ancient Greek and Roman times, it was a common worry. Back then, raising a glass wasn’t just to toast to the health of the...

  • 8 Quick and Easy Party Appetizers
    Move over, cheese plate. There is another quick and easy appetizer this year — and it’s homemade. Savvy hosts know that party foods don’t have to be made completely from scratch to taste good and wow guests. Between work and family,...

  • Christmas Songs That Make Us Hungry
    ‘Tis the season to deck the halls with visions of sugar plums, candy canes, and a whole lot of gingerbread, both in our bellies and in the air. As food never falls far from our thoughts at TDM, holiday songs with food (or drink) in the lyrics...

  • 9 Homemade Gift Ideas
    ‘Tis the season for gift giving. With a list full of family and friends, the cost of buying gifts at the store (let alone the mental strain of finding just the right present) bears a heavy load. Yet a gift need not carry a brand-name label to have...

  • Is It OK to Rearrange Seating Cards?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • 9 Super Green Christmas Decorations
    A recent issue of Scientific American reported that mistletoe may be extinct in 20 years. And the holidays aren’t complete without mistletoe, right? So that either means we’ve got to get all our smooches in now or think of a smart alternative...

  • 13 Over-the-Top Gingerbread Houses
    When it comes to decadent holiday decorations, gingerbread houses take the cake these days. From houses in the shape of tiki bars or the Henri Bendel store in New York City to an Occupy North Pole protest made entirely out of gingerbread and sugar,...

  • 13 Office Holiday Party Fouls
    With December here, it’s officially holiday party season! While the lavish celebrations of years past, featuring extravagances like a vodka luge or a performance by Jay—Z might be replaced by more casual, low-key affairs this year,...

  • 10 Ornaments You’d Rather Eat
    The best thing about decorating the tree during the holidays is the ornaments. There is the one you made with dried pasta when you were three, spray-painted with gold paint. For soccer players, there is the black-and-white ball suspended from a string....

  • 20 Easy Holiday Party Ideas
    "Not another ugly Christmas sweater party," you think. After all, you’ve thrown it for the past three years. If this sounds like you, you may be experiencing pre-holiday season party fatigue. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to inject...

  • 12 Gifts Perfect for Party Hosts
    She’s the person who will pull together a meal for four with just a few hours notice. The guy who will never go as far as serving delivery pizza when the guys are over for the game ("If you’re going to serve takeout, at least dress it up...

  • Guide to Fighting Stains
    You know the situation all too well. You’re hosting a dinner party and guests are all seated around the table, well into their main course. Glasses are full of the ’82 bordeaux you pulled out for the occasion. Just as the conversation deepens...

  • Is It OK to Gift Something Baked?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • 6 Cool Thanksgiving Leftovers Party Ideas
    Once the feast is over, the party doesn’t have to stop. After all, isn’t feasting on all the leftovers the next day, for some, even better than chowing down on the main meal itself? Think back to the Friends episode when Ross Geller brings in...

  • When Is It OK to Bring a Plus One to a Party?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • Tips for Hosting a Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving
    Growing up, my family’s holiday get-togethers were always kid-friendly. With a range of 27 years amongst grandchildren, there was never enough room at one table for everyone. By the time the third grandchild came along, my grandmother was wise...

  • What to Bring Your Hosts This Holiday Season
    Whether you’re in need of a gift for that food-loving friend of yours, or are spending the holidays with your in-laws who never cease to amaze you with their encyclopedic knowledge of food and restaurants, figuring out just what to bring can be an...

  • The Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Guest
    What is it about Thanksgiving that always seems to bring out the best in people — the best of the worst behavior, that is. Along with that showstopping centerpiece of the meal — the Thanksgiving turkey — so too comes side dishes of...

  • 5 Cool 'Twilight'-Themed Party Ideas
    It’s the week that most of us who fell in love with the Twilight series years ago — be it for Edward, Jacob, or simply the eerie landscape of the Pacific Northwest and vampire lifestyle (maybe I’m speaking for myself, here) — have...

  • White House Thanksgiving Traditions
    Come Thanksgiving morning, people around the nation begin the day with traditions of their own. Some snuggle in front of the TV watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, breakfast in hand. Others are already hard at work in the kitchen, laboring...

  • 85 Years of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Pictures
    For many Americans, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is just about as important (if not more) as the turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie that will grace the table later in the day (and then all the leftovers the following day, of course). It’s...

  • 5 Reasons to Celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day
    Were you ever the girl who asked the guy out on Sadie Hawkins Day, or asked him to be your date for the Sadie Hawkins dance? Pretty cool to think that all the way back in the 1930s, the ladies had a chance to chase down the men, rather than the more...

  • 14 Party Essentials Everyone Should Have
    Whether you invite friends over after work for an impromptu drink or entertain an unexpected guest for dinner, having a pantry stocked full of shelf-stable foodstuffs to rely on is a secret of many experienced hosts. Event planner Karen Bussen calls it...

  • Is It Rude to Ask Guests to Remove Their Shoes?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an ...

  • 11 Unique Ideas for Thanksgiving Centerpieces
    We’re not going to argue — at Thanksgiving, the star of the show is more often than not the turkey. After all, weighing in around 13-20 pounds, the beast is a force to be reckoned with — especially when you’ve been laboring...

  • 7 Reasons Why Men Should Make Dinner Tonight
    After a long day at work, nothing quite satisfies like coming home to a hot meal and a glass of wine. Well, gentlemen, here is your opportunity to impress those ladies in your life. (And ladies reading this, act now and email the link to this post to...

  • A Guide to Better Party Bags
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an email with...

  • Hosting Your Family From Hell
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an email with...

  • Bette Midler’s Celebrity-Studded Halloween Party
    While the weather might have been chilly out this past Friday night, spirits were high inside the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, in more ways than one. With a “Dia de los Muertos” theme, Midler hosted more than 600...

  • 25 Best Party Foods Your Guests Will Love
    [slideshow:38676] When hosting a party, the success of your get-together comes down to three things: good friends, plenty of drinks, and great food. But what makes an appetizer suitable for your next soiree? For most, it means that whatever you serve, be...

  • Martha Stewart’s Perfect Cocktail Party
    It’s been nearly 30 years since Martha Stewart’s first book, Entertaining, debuted. In honor of the book’s publication, Stewart has been sharing some of her best entertaining tips and ideas. We attended a recent celebratory taping where...

  • Celebrate Diwali
    Just when you thought Halloween was the time to roll out the sweets, think again. Diwali (also known as Divali, or Deepavali), one of the largest holidays in India, begins October 26th. Though it might not be as big as Thanksgiving or Easter here in the U...

  • 10 Extraordinary Carved Pumpkins
    Halloween brings out the competitive spirit in many people. Who is wearing the scarier costume, who is handing out the better (or bigger?) candy, and of course, whose pumpkin reigns supreme? When it comes to squash, you could go the traditional route,...

  • 10 Hottest Celebrity Costumes
    There is a universal appeal to Halloween. What’s not to love with all the sweet candy being handed out everywhere, and the opportunity to, for just a night, pretend that you’re someone else — be it scary, sweet, or sexy — like Tori...

  • 7 Most Over-the-Top Halloween Parties
    Halloween is the second most expensive holiday, only after Christmas. Surprising, no? But when you factor in the elaborate costumes, makeup, gallons of candy given out, it all adds up. Then consider the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on a number...

  • 9 Scary Songs for a Haunted House
    Whether or not you’re transforming the front yard, porch, or stoop into a spiderweb-covered, bat-infested setting that just might deter even the most determined trick-or-treater, it’s easy to turn up the fear factor — all you need is a...

  • Create Your Own Scary Haunted House
    Halloween is the one night of the year you’re allowed to scare everyone who comes your way out of their wits — it’s actually encouraged (just don’t traumatize your victim so much that they’re scarred for life). And the best...

  • A Harvest Supper Celebration in Greenwich
    A late afternoon torrential downpour might be enough to keep one from wanting to head outdoors, but it wasn't enough to deter the 70 some-odd guests who came out to the Bush-Holley Historic Site in Greenwich, Conn., on October 14th to celebrate the...

  • 13 Gross Foods for Haunted Houses
    Halloween is the one time of year where grossing out friends and family with spiderweb cupcakes, worm-studded treats, and kitty litter cake is encouraged. If you’ve ever been “sliced” with a shard of glass — with a sharp-edged...

  • Should I Bring My Cellphone with Me to the Table?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an email with...

  • Should I Make My Own Wedding Cake?
    Wedding cakes are expensive. According to a recent study* by TheKnot.com, the average price for a cake is $512, with 11% of brides spending upwards of $750. So it's no surprise that when planning a wedding, many couples will trim their budget by...

  • 8 Most Elaborate White House State Dinners in History
    A White House State Dinner isn’t like a traditional dinner party. They're "bigger than the biggest weddings," former White House chef Walter Scheib told ABC News, and invitations are considered to be the “hottest tickets in town...

  • We Have a Winner for the Macy's Culinary Council's Thanksgiving & Holiday Cookbook!
    UPDATED: We have a winnder for the Macy's Culinary Council Thanksgiving & Holiday Cookbook! Congratulations to mtncook825 whose favorite Thanksgiving tradition of watching the parade on TV is always made fun with homemade muffins, scones, and...

  • A Superhero-Themed Cocktail Party
    From October 13th through 16th, geeks and superheroes from a range of mediums — comic books, television, anime, video games, toys, books, and the silver screen — descended on Gotham City (err, New York City) in celebration of Comic Con,...

  • Is It OK to Punish My Child's Playdate?
    Every week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene answer etiquette questions from modern day hosts, offering advice from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Have a question you want answered? Send us an...

  • 12 Unique Alternatives to Carved Pumpkins
    October is here, and it’s about time to think about what kind of face or image to carve into a creepy jack-o’-lantern, if you haven’t already. When it comes to carving pumpkins, there is no question that neighbors silently compete with...

  • Long Weekend in… Providence, R.I.
    If you’ve never been to Venice, Italy, but always wanted to go, there is no need to bemoan the cost of a flight across the pond just to experience the charm and gondolier rides of the iconic Italian city. Opt for something just a bit less expensive...

  • A Backyard Biergarten Oktoberfest Party
    While Oktoberfest in Munich might be officially over for the year, October has just begun and there is no reason to stop celebrating the best that Germany has to offer — beer and brats, of course. This fall, host your own celebration that the...

  • Are You a Lazy Host?
    We recently came across this discussion on Yelp where a reader had asked if it was OK to order in Pizza Hut when having people over. Now, there are times when ordering pizza in is a must — shall we start with Super Bowl Sunday, for example? But...

  • Ultimate Halloween Party Playlist
    Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year. Bags and baskets of candy are always available for the taking, and it offers an excuse to wear spider-web stockings and Scream masks to school or work. Then there are all the haunted houses, creepy...

  • 6 Oddball Games to Play with Food
    Growing up, most parents are constantly reminding children that food is for eating — not for playing. The napkin is to stay in their lap and they are to use proper utensils, rather than using  their mouth to shoot peas at the person...

  • 13 Creepy Cakes
    Walking into a party, even at Halloween, the last thing you’re expecting to see is a beheaded zombie, especially with a chunk taken out of his head. But when the theme is creepy, and the attire is gruesome glam, it’s an effective decorative...

  • Bite-Sized Appetizers That Will Blow Your Mind
    A few years ago, I was at an event on a pier along Manhattan’s west side. Milling around from booth to booth, a server approached me with a tray of what appeared to be miniature grilled cheese sandwiches, carefully presented on a specially designed...

  • Is It OK to Disinvite a Guest?
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts ...

  • Start a Book Club
    There is something about the fall that makes many of us eager to curl up on the front porch, or by the fire, with a warm blanket and a good book. Yet, reading Steve Martin's An Object of Beauty or Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities...

  • Celebrate 85 Years of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
    Every Thanksgiving, more than 53 million people around the country tune into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s no ordinary parade, but a national tradition that for many is just as important on Thanksgiving Day as serving a roast turkey...

  • Host an Allergy-Free Party
    More than 15 million Americans have food allergies, according to the Food Allergy & Anaphlaxis Network, and the population of those allergic to foods like peanuts, milk, and gluten is continuing to grow. In the last decade alone, the numbers for...

  • Setting the Scene for Date Night at Home
    When dating, dining out can get old fast. Sure, being cooked for, and cared for, is stress-free and relaxing, but where is the romance in being seated elbow-to-elbow like sardines at that tiny Italian hot spot, or having to scream across the table just to...

  • A Romantic Dinner Date Playlist
    A night out on the town for cocktails and dinner can be fun. But with the deafening restaurant noise, the tiny tables crammed into an even more snug space, and the awkward dates around you, taking your date out can sometimes put a damper on your evening...

  • Packing Wine for a Party
    You’ve been invited for dinner and asked to bring a bottle of wine. Should you ask the store manager at the corner liquor store by your office for something good, and gift it to your host still wrapped in the brown paper bag (or worse yet, plastic...

  • What to Do When Conversations Turn Bad
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts ...

  • 15 Party Fouls You Should Never Make
    As any host knows, it takes a lot of time, thought, and effort to pull off a successful party of any size. From the tray of signature cocktails awaiting guests as they arrive and the free-flowing full bar, to the thoughtful touch of placing cozy pashminas...

  • Dine Together to Help Hurricane Relief
    For East Coast residents, last month’s Hurricane Irene has certainly left an indelible mark on the region. Many neighborhoods were inundated with water, flooding homes and making transportation by boat the norm. Along coastal areas, the harsh salt...

  • A Harvest Party to Celebrate Autumn
    When fall begins, exactly, is debatable. For some, it’s Labor Day weekend, when the beach house is secured for the winter and there is a scramble to get the last swim in the ocean. Yet, it's the arrival of the school bus on that first day of...

  • 9 Sexy Cakes
    Typically, sexy cakes are reserved for just those all too racy, over-the-top bachelor or bachelorette celebrations. Not anymore. Even those who love to languish in the tub, or are known for their skills on the dance floor, can have a little fun when...

  • Live Twitter Chat: Party Fouls You Shouldn’t Make
    Ever wonder what sorts of disasters an event planner who plans hundreds of parties of all sizes and budgets has witnessed over the years — or if you've ever committed such a crime? Well, you can. They’re the kinds of things that will...

  • Dinner Parties and Damaged Dishes: What to Do When Something Breaks
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts ...

  • 6 Ways to Celebrate Rosh Hashanah
    Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the Jewish New Year, and is one of the two most important holidays in the Hebrew calendar (the other is Yom Kippur). Literally meaning the "head of the year," Rosh Hashanah falls 10 days before Yom Kippur. This...

  • 6 Tabletop Trends for Fall
    Though the days are getting shorter and the leaves are beginning to turn, it’s still summer in New York City. Over the past week, the fashion world converged on New York City for the Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Week —and brought a little warm,...

  • 6 Proposal Fails, Caught on Tape
    When it comes to proposing, there is a lot of pressure riding on one guy’s shoulders for a question only four words long. Hours of planning go into that one moment when those words come out of his mouth. But it doesn’t always end as planned....

  • Behind the Scenes at Outstanding in the Field
    Driving down the dirt, clamshell-studded driveway under an allée of shady trees, it appeared just like any other midweek day at Westport Rivers Vineyard in Westport, Mass. A few cars were parked beside the farmhouse tasting room, where inside, a...

  • A Last-Minute Dorm Room Dinner Party
    When hosting a get-together with friends, cooking a big meal isn’t always required. A common solution for those with access to only a kitchen is to host a potluck dinner, but students living in dorms with access to a bathroom sink, microwave, and...

  • 10 Unique Dinner Party Favors
    When it comes to differentiating your next dinner party from all the other invitations a couple might get, there is one way to instant success: send guests home with a delicious favor, handcrafted if you can, that will remind them of the meal for a day (...

  • 7 Cool, Crafty Parties to Host With Friends
    Inviting people into your home can be intimidating. You have to think about which guests will work together well, and what food and drink you should offer them. Not to mention what on earth you’ll talk about once you’re finishing chatting...

  • What to Do When Guests Don’t RSVP
    Once a week, our resident experts Mindy Lockard and Coryanne Ettiene will weigh in with helpful advice to help the modern host tackle even the stickiest of situations with grace. Have a question you want answered? Send us an email with...

  • 10 Extreme Dinner Parties
    For some, hosting a dinner party at home is challenge enough, especially when moving the meal from indoors to out. Others are looking for an even greater challenge (OK, or to break a Guinness World Record). Case in point? One underwater dinner party...

  • 5 Great Tailgates for Under $100
    Tailgating season is here! It’s considered the ultimate outdoor party, and for some sports fans, is what they look forward to all year long. Yet, what began as a budget-friendly alternative to expensive concession stand food and drinks has itself...

  • 13 Songs to Beat the Back-to-School Blues
    Summer is officially over and the days of packing lunch bags, waiting for the school bus, and lugging heavy textbooks are back. It’s natural for kids to mourn the lazy days of summer. Hours once filled with swim team and tennis are now replaced with...

  • 5 Ways to Celebrate Mexican Independence Day
    With summer drawing to a close and many kids back in school, chances are those impromptu post-work cocktails outside will be fewer and farther between. There are the carpools, homework that needs to be done, and food that needs to be put on the table, of...

  • 10 More Unusual Wedding Cakes
    When it comes to planning a wedding, a lot of time, effort, and consideration go into every single detail, from the invitation, the dresses, down to the welcome bags and favors that should delight guests and have them thinking of your big day even long...

  • Advice for Proposing in a Restaurant
    Popping the question over dinner out is a part of our culture. According to The Knot.com, a whopping 58% of women said they would want to be asked at the site of their first date, while 31% said they’d want to say yes at their favorite restaurant,...

  • How to Decode an Invitation’s Dress Code
    If you’ve been lucky enough to score an invite to Lauren Bush’s marriage to Ralph Lauren’s son David this weekend, then you might just be wondering what exactly to wear to the grand “black tie with a Western twist” wedding,...

  • When to Bring Wine as a Hostess Gift
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts ...

  • 6 Tips for Hosting a Dorm Room Get-Together
    Finally, it’s back at school time. Elated to see friends again after summers away working in the big city or traveling the wilds of Southeastern Asia, many students are eager to get back on campus and catch up. But instead of taking up residence at...

  • 6 New Ways to Host a Housewarming
    There is one upside to moving to a new home. Sure, you get to purge what you don’t need and maybe buy a new set of curtains, but really it’s an excuse to host a get-together. With a little creativity, you don’t even need to have to have...

  • Have a No-Labor Labor Day Party
    For many, Labor Day marks the end of summer and the transition back to school (and loss of summer Fridays). All you might think about is that day off from work, but having that first Monday in September is also a time to honor and pay tribute to the...

  • 8 Ways to Welcome New Neighbors
    Late summer is prime time for moving, second only to June. Those new neighbors, whether they're a family new to town, an older couple downsizing, or a fresh college graduate starting a new job, are likely to feel a bit overwhelmed. Between the...

  • The Daily Meal's 50 People You Should Know When Throwing a Party
    They’re the people who plan and produce the events that exist only in our dreams. They help create weddings with all the stops pulled out, bringing in the gospel choir, arranging an entrance by yacht, an exit via gondola — with an artist...

  • Party Advice for Picky Eaters
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts ...

  • Live Twitter Chat: Throw a Great Party Without Breaking the Bank
    Want to host a great party but don't know where to begin? If only you could talk to the best and brightest event planners and caterers in the business for inspiration and their tried-and-true party tips. Well, you can. They're the people who...

  • 11 Topics for Engaging Kids at the Dinner Table
    For some busy parents (with busy kids), simply getting everyone to sit down together at the table for a home-cooked meal during the school year is a daunting challenge in and of itself. There are schedules to juggle and a meal to shop for and cook. But...

  • Transitioning Your Child to Eating on His or Her Own
    It’s a stage that many parents remember well — transitioning their son or daughter off the bottle and onto solid foods. The rejected spoonfuls of puréed carrots and apples that would dribble down chins. Bits of cereal that would make it...

  • Etiquette Advice for Family Gatherings
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts ...

  • A Night at Ted and Amy’s Supper Club
    For those who love food, enjoy throwing parties, and are looking for a way to bring together new and old friends, have you ever considered starting a supper club? It’s something that Kara Masi, a young professional in New York City, did with the...

  • 9 Easy Steps to Starting a Supper Club
    Have you always wanted to start a supper club? Whether you’re bringing together friends or looking to make new ones, there are lots of things to consider when beginning your own. We’ve put together some simple tips, along with advice from a...

  • 8 Wedding Cake Alternatives You Can Do Yourself
    A traditional wedding cake is no longer, well, a tradition. Whether you’re looking to trim your wedding budget by cutting the cost of buying a more conventional multi-layered cake, or add a more creative element to personalize your celebration,...

  • A Summer Produce Potluck Dinner
    With late summer comes the buzz of the cicadas, nights that begin a bit earlier, and a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables from farms and gardens that for some becomes too much to handle. With a bumper crop of green beans, zucchini plants that are...

  • A Wet and Wild Pool Party (No Pool Required)
    Having a birthday during the summer doesn’t have to put a damper on your child’s celebration. He or she might not be able to bring cupcakes into school, but the heat and humidity of the season shouldn't prevent the party from taking place...

  • A Cook-the-Book Party
    I love cookbooks. Even in this day in age when our favorite recipes are available digitally via iPad, computer, even our cell phones, there is nothing quite comparable to the joy of sitting back with a glass of wine at the end of the day (or in the...

  • Backyard Movie Night
    There is no need to spend $10 to $13 a head on tickets for the latest blockbuster hit when you can have a lot more fun — for a whole lot less — hosting your own backyard movie night. If you’ve got space in your yard, driveway, even on...

  • Make-Your-Own Drink Coasters
    It’s an issue that most hosts and hostesses deal with at one point or another: how to keep their guests’ drinks from marking up their antique table. While our parents’ generation may have a stack (or multiple stacks) of coasters, maybe...

  • A Night at The Cookery
    It’s a trend that is certainly on the rise: the pop-up dining experience. This summer marks the seventh version of chef Ludo Lefebvre's LA-based pop-up restaurant LudoBites, while Thomas Keller is opening a pop-up version of his beloved The...

  • Host a Beach Cookout
    I grew up spending my summers by the sea, and every year the highlight of summer (aside from swimming and sidewalk lemonade stands) was my family’s annual beach cookout. Usually timed with a fuller-sized moon and low tide, these get-togethers would...

  • 5 Great Games to Play at the Table
    If you’re hosting a dinner party, there is no reason to fear that dull conversation will leave your guests with a sour taste in their mouths. Just as you would plan your menu in advance, it’s wise to think about ways that you can engage your...

  • When a Houseguest Behaves Badly
    When entertaining, there are two secrets to a host’s success: An ability to bring together people and create lasting memories, and the foresight to see — and resolve — problems before they arise. Once a week, our resident experts Mindy...

  • 8 D.I.Y. Edible Wedding Favors
    From the dresses to the music, menu to the flowers in the boutonnieres and bouquets, there is so much to consider when planning a wedding. Sure, what you see on the surface matters, but it’s the little personal touches like welcome bags with...

  • 10 Wild Animal Cakes
    When planning a birthday party for your young child, more often than not, one of three themes is considered: sports, princesses, and animals. Sports fans might celebrate with a cake shaped like a baseball diamond or a soccer ball; girls who dream of being...

  • Expert Tips for a Great Party
    When it comes to hosting a great party, party-planner-to-the-stars Jes Gordon knows exactly what is needed. Her work has taken her from the set of films like Dead Man Walking to coordinating events and décor at Tavern on the Green in New York...

  • 7 Summery Hostess Gift Ideas
    Whether you’re headed off for a weekend with friends, going over to your in-laws' house for dinner, or are sending your child off to spend the week at their friend’s vacation home, nothing starts a guest off on the right foot more than a...

  • 6 Celebrity Dream Estates Perfect for Parties
    Whether it’s in a magazine or on television, pictures of celebrity homes are everywhere. With sweeping porches, magnificent views, rooms that appear to be always seemingly bright and clean, and everything in its place, these multimillion-dollar...

  • 11 Great Conversation Kick-Starters
    You walk into a cocktail party, knowing nobody. You make yourself a cocktail, look around the room, and spot another person, silently standing there, sipping their gin and tonic and surveying the scene. S/he looks like a nice, so why not strike up a...

  • 10 Red, White, and Blue Desserts
    Wondering what to serve for dessert after your patriotic picnic with family or star-spangled neighborhood backyard barbecue? A variety of red, white, and blue-colored desserts! We’ve put together a list of our favorite Lincoln- and Washington-...

  • Annette Joseph’s Party Pantry Staples
    To make last-minute entertaining stress-free, Joseph always stocks up on certain pantry essentials to ensure that she always has what she needs, all stored together in one part of her pantry. “That way, when I run into a friend and make last-minute...

  • Annette Joseph’s Playlist Picks
    When hosting a gathering, adding a musical element in the background helps to make your guests feel comfortable. It’s also super easy to do — simply plug in your iPod into some speakers, turn on your iTunes on your computer, or even tune your...

  • Annette Joseph’s Tips for Entertaining
    When Annette Joseph hosts a dinner party, it’s not just about the food. Certainly the menu matters, as does creating a welcoming setting for her guests. But for her, a good party is all about the people. We recently had a chance to sit down with the...

  • A Tapas Party Playlist
    You’ve made the tapas, readied the sangria, chilled the Albariño, and set out a spread of Spanish cheeses. Now all you need to do to transport your guests from your home to the streets of Barcelona is to put on some classic flamenco favorites...

  • Bug-Inspired Décor for Your Table
    The summer months are the perfect time to entertain outdoors. The weather is warm, the sun is shining (when it’s not thundering), the lawn is lush, green, and comfortable underfoot, and everything tastes better when eaten in fresh air — and...

  • Inspiring Toasts Caught on Tape
    For many, being asked to give a toast at a wedding or birthday celebration is a great honor. But more often than not, these moments meant to honor the person you're toasting can turn into long and dull monologues that bore the audience (all while you...

  • 12 Dinner Date Dealbreakers
    You spotted her at the bar last week. Tall, smart, and she knows her way around a restaurant menu (a plus for us food-loving folk). So you asked her to dinner. All is going well and conversation is flowing until you decide to mix up the cocktail order,...

  • The Daily Meal's Summer Party Playlists
    When you’re planning a get together with friends, there are three ingredients listed in our recipe for success: good friends, good food, and good tunes. In the spirit of summer and entertaining outdoors, we’ve created two playlists — one...

  • A Chef’s Favorite Summer Get-Together
    As executive chef at Charleston Grill, Michelle Weaver’s days and evenings are mostly spent in the kitchen, creating and preparing an array of dishes for the restaurant’s guests, ranging from local Southern favorites and light, flavorful...

  • The Secrets of Southern Hospitality
    For those who’ve ever been down south, Southerners know how to throw a fabulous party. Of course, a healthy dose of Southern hospitality helps. But many are still left wondering, how do they throw those unforgettable parties with such frequency...

  • Tips for a Brown-Bag Lunch with Co-Workers
    For many of us office workers sitting all day behind a computer screen, running out to the nearest Chipotle or corner salad spot is a daily ritual that gives us a brief moment to catch up with co-workers and get some fresh air. It’s also a habit...

  • 10 Amazing Cakes That Look Like Food
    Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or another momentous event, marking the occasion with a cake has become somewhat customary. Yet, sometimes an ordinary layer cake from the grocery store bakery or Carvel won't do. Consider your father's...

  • Party Conversation Do's and Don’ts
    “The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” — Dorothy Nevill, British author.   Think back to the gatherings where you...

  • Tips for Hosting a Harry Potter Screening Party
    It’s the moment that many Potter fans have been waiting for since November of 2010: the release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Though the movie debuts in theaters on Friday, July 15th, excitement around the final installment...

  • 5 Tips to Remember for Easy Entertaining
    For a host, having friends or family over for dinner need not be stressful, yet more often than not it is. How many times have you planned out the menu, only to realize at the last minute that you forgot that essential ingredient at the store or make the...

  • Cocktail Party Playlist
    When making your cocktail party playlist, think about what songs put you in a good mood and make you want to just kick back with a cocktail and watch the sun go down. Here are some of our favorites — then share your go-to picks with us below!...

  • Tips and Ideas for Hosting a Summer Cocktail Party
    Summer is officially here and whether you're on vacation or looking to relax after a long work week, there is no better way to catch up with friends than with a festive cocktail party. When planning the menu, feature crowd-friendly drinks that will...

  • Host a Bastille Day Celebration
    Bastille Day, formally La Fête Nationale or The National Celebration, falls on July 14th and celebrates France’s freedom from monarchial rule. The French national holiday coincides with the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a large...

  • A Make-Ahead Weekend Lunch Menu
    When you’re on vacation and enjoying the sun, surf, or sand, spending your mornings making lunch for the family (and clean it up) only to turn around and do the same thing again five hours later for dinner is low on a parent’s agenda. But...

  • 8 Great Treats for Kids' Parties
    When hosting a birthday party or celebrating another kid-friendly occasion, offering a sweet finish at the end of the celebratory meal is often what each child looks forward to most. But the next time there is a party in the house, instead of pulling out...

  • A Pop-Up Dinner Party
    You’ve probably heard about the rising popularity of pop-up dining establishments. It’s been done on subways, in outdoor spaces in major cities, even in vacant houses (where the location of the meal isn’t revealed until the last minute...

  • Farmers’ Market Weekend Brunch Menu
    This time of year, there is no experience quite like walking through a farmers’ market with the aromas of fresh basil and dill mixing with the sweetness of sun-ripened strawberries. Typically, shoppers will head to the market with a specific menu...

  • 12 Great Dishes for a Potluck Party
    It’s the kind of party that hosts love to throw and guests love to attend: a potluck. Hosts aren’t required to labor over the stove or cutting board for hours making elaborate dishes all day and then set a formal dinner table. And guests are...

  • Family-Friendly Burger Fiesta Menu
    There is no better way to kick off summer than with a casual meal with friends and neighbors in the backyard. After a day of playing in the grass and jumping in the pool, what parent doesn’t cringe when it’s time to wrangle the kids and get...

  • A Patriotic Playlist
    Hosting a Fourth of July celebration this weekend? By now you've likely chosen your menu, thought about how you'll be setting the table, and possibly have hung the flag over the front porch. But what about a patriotic set of tunes to complete your...

  • A Melting-Pot Menu for July 4th
    For many, the Fourth of July holiday weekend is filled with traditional backyard barbecues of all kinds, trips to the beach, and leisurely picnics in the park (often with fireworks). But instead of relying on burgers and potato salad, spice up your menu...

  • Celebrate Macaroni Day
    Not to be confused with the eccentrically fashionable fellows of 18th century England, macaroni (as most of us know it) is a type of machine-made pasta made. It refers to the specific kind of dough the pasta is made of rather than it's shape —...

  • Long Weekend in... Charleston
    It’s a dilemma many a traveling couple faces. How to satisfy a history buff’s hunger to step back in time and a gourmand’s insatiable hunger for fresh, well-prepared, imaginative meals in one weekend? Certainly a trip to Paris would take...

  • 8 Most Lavish Celebrations in Sports
    We see athletes play hard on the field and on the ice, but these sports stars and their team owners know how to party hard, too. Case in point: When the Lakers won the 2009 NBA Championship, there was no stopping them from putting on a two-million-dollar...

  • A Fourth of July Picnic Menu
    There is no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend than by packing up a picnic dinner, a couple of blankets (and other cool tools), and some summery drinks for both kids and adults. To help you in the planning, we’ve put together...

  • Liza Utter's Tips for Entertaining
    Some hosts are born with the entertaining gene. Week after week, they can put together a delicious menu, create a stunning table, and bring together friends from various parts of life for an evening where the chatter continues late into the night and...

  • We Have a Winner for the Ultimate Grilling Giveaway Part Two!
      Congratulations to Caroline_T for winning the second part of our June giveaway month! Her recipe for a Grilled Steak Sandwiches with Goat Cheese & Arugula caught our eye because it was easy, delicious, and perfect to serve a crowd of...

  • 5 Classic Wimbledon Traditions
    For tennis fans all over the world, summer doesn’t start until late June, when The Championships at Wimbledon begin, and professional athletes from around the world come together to compete on grass for prize money totaling over $22.2 million. And...

  • Our Favorite Hollywood Dinner Party Moments
    When it comes to entertaining guests, no one does it better than Hollywood. From lavish parties with dancing under the stars like we see in Sabrina, to boisterous dinners for 20 in your living room like the one in The Party, there is always something to...

  • An Al Fresco Summer Dinner Party Menu
    With the official start of summer here, why not host your next dinner party outdoors? Set the table in the grass where the air is cooler and dine by candlelight with trees and stars overhead; you’ll surely to find the setting a bit more romantic...

  • 6 Healthy Celebrity Weddings
    It’s the one day in your life where you want to look your best. You’ve spent months of planning the reception, toiling over flower choices and music selections — and probably the same amount of time getting into tip-top shape so you can...

  • Tips for Hosting a School’s Out for the Summer Party
    Now is the perfect time to plan and host a gathering that welcomes in those lazy summer days with an afternoon of water-based games and activities. For ages 8 to 13, this themed party works for both pool and lake or seaside locations. To keep the kids...

  • How to Host Your Own Wine Tasting Party
    Looking for a fun way to mix up your dine out or pot-luck themed weekly get-together? If you like wine, why not host a wine tasting party? Whether you're a seasoned wine drinker or can’t figure out the nuances between a Merlot and a Malbec,...

  • A Romantic Dinner Date Menu
    Whether you're the guy cooking for your lady, or the lady preparing a meal for your man, sometimes we all need a little help when coming up with just the right menu to impress our date. This week, we’ve been inspired by the bounty of fresh...

  • 10 No-Cook Ideas for Weeknight Dinners
    By now, most of us have experienced the blazing hot heat, humidity, and sun of summer. Think back to those days — now what did you have for dinner? If you’re like me, you probably found yourself trying to come up with a quick, cool, and...

  • 10 Amazing Groom's Cakes
    When you think of groom’s cakes, you might think of the armadillo cake, a Southern tradition that a bride would surprise her husband-to-be with, in addition to her own towering white creation. Once rarely seen at weddings (at least outside of the...

  • The Ultimate Grilling Giveaway!
    We're continuing our awesome summer cookout contest with three brand new items that you can win! What We're Giving Away: Premier Stainless Steel Portable Grill (with carrying bag), Fenced Roasting Rack, and a Cobb-On-the-Go Cookbook. (Yes,...

  • 10 Ways to Beef Up Dad’s Day
    When it comes to honoring dad on June 19th, nothing quite tops beef (OK, maybe bacon… but that’s for breakfast) for his celebratory dinner. You can braise it, grill it, broil it, even serve it raw as a tartare. Sure, you could pick up a steak...

  • Tips and Recipes for Hosting a Backyard Dinner Party
    Nothing says summer more than grilling in the backyard with friends. Looking for some fresh meal ideas other than your standard burgers and dogs? We’re here to help. Put away those paper plates and vinyl tablecloths, because for this dinner party,...

  • How Rocco DiSpirito Hosts a Dinner Party
    You might know him from his appearance on 2003-2004’s The Restaurant, or as a guest judge on Top Chef, but recently, this 44-year old celebrity chef, author, and triathlete has dropped off the food radar, leaving us wondering, what on earth is...

  • What to Make When Entertaining Weekend Guests
    Entertaining a houseful of guests is challenging enough, so when it comes to feeding those people in addition to your own family, it’s no surprise that some hosts and hostesses burn out easily during the summer. That’s why we’ve come to...

  • 7 Worst Dinner Party Dishes
    Many hosts and hostesses will agree: hosting a dinner party can be stressful. There is a bar to stock, tables to set, flowers to arrange, and of course an inviting scene to set — and then you’ve got to prepare multiple courses on top of that...

  • How to Avoid Diet Pitfalls at Summer Parties
    From sugary iced coffee drinks and burgers on the grill (with all the toppings) to cold beers and the requisite ice cream treats, summer is a minefield of calorie-dense pitfalls that can wreak havoc on our waistlines. If you’ve spent all spring...

  • How Chefs Celebrate Father's Day
    From picking you up when you fell to countless hours spent pitching balls at the baseball diamond, dad has always been there for you. So how are you honoring him this Father's Day? Maybe you’ve celebrated dad in past years by heading out for a...

  • How to Celebrate World Oceans Day
    You love lobster and to swim in the ocean. So how are you celebrating World Oceans Day on June 8th? Established in 1992, the mini holiday was established to build awareness of how important these bodies of water are. They help provide the...

  • 9 Tips for Entertaining in a Shoebox Kitchen
    When you’re living in the big city, the multitude of restaurants makes it easy to share a meal with friends outside the home. It can be one of many excuses to avoid facing your fear of hosting a gathering in your closet-sized apartment (with its...

  • 5 Great Outdoor Summer Activities (and Snacks to Pack)
    When the weather gets warm, there is no better way to spend an afternoon than by doing something outdoors with friends or family. But all that activity is sure to leave you hungry, and whether you're tossing a Frisbee or going for a hike in the woods...

  • How to Make Party-Perfect Sweets
    You’ve probably baked with sugar, serving a variety of cookies, brownies, and cakes from your kitchen for every birthday, bake sale, and family dinner party. But have you ever cooked with sugar, turning out pudding pops and homemade cotton candy for...

  • Celebrate Donut Day
    Falling annually on the first Friday in June, National Donut Day celebrates the sweet, often deep-fried ring — formally known as a doughnut — that many devour daily with their morning coffee. (They’re also Food Network host Alton Brown...

  • Sunday Night Family Dinner Menu
    There is no better way to end a fun-filled weekend (or start the work week off on the right foot) than with a simple yet delicious meal with the family at home. There is no need to spend all day cooking in the kitchen, though. The key is to keep the menu...

  • Celebrate Chocolate Pudding Day
    It’s the dessert that never seems to go out of style: chocolate pudding. If you've only made pudding from a box, it's time to try something new. As June 26th is National Chocolate Pudding Day, we’re pulling out our mixers and baking...

  • 7 Tricks for Beautifying Your Dinner Party Dishes
    When hosting a dinner party, half the battle is setting the scene and making your guests comfortable. And the rest? It's all about the food and drink. Naturally, what host or hostess doesn’t want to impress their guests with a delicious meal...

  • 14 Ways to Celebrate Summer
    Have you ever found yourself headed out of town on a Friday in late July thinking, "ah, it finally feels like summer?" Given that Memorial Day weekend, for many, heralds in the unofficial start of summer, you shouldn’t be experiencing your...

  • 4 Great Graduation Party Menus
    With graduation season finally here, your mind is likely busy with coordinating the extended family or finding just the right gift for your new graduate that you haven’t started planning a home-cooked meal to celebrate the momentous day. Don’t...

  • Post-Graduation BBQ Party Menu
    For the recent college graduate, after the parents and extended family head home it’s time to celebrate your accomplishments (and those completed theses) with a group of your room/housemates. Start with drinks: stock the cooler with beer and read...

  • A Post-Commencement Brunch Menu
    After lugging the grandparents and younger siblings around a school campus, many parents don’t want to face a packed restaurant for brunch after a graduation ceremony. So why not host a brunch at home? Choose dishes that you can prepare in advance...

  • Pre-Graduation Family Dinner Menu
    The night before a graduate’s big day, celebrate the momentous occasion by making a delicious meal at home. Invite the grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins if you wish — or the immediate family of another graduate (and your grad's...

  • How to Entertain in a Small Kitchen (and on a Budget)
    When you have an expansive kitchen, entertaining is easy. There is tons of room to roll the dough for your pies and ample space to set up a kitchen-island buffet before sitting down to an immaculately-set dining room table. But, when you’re a recent...

  • The Ultimate Grilling Menu
    It’s not summer without a backyard grilling fiesta, and we’ve put together the ultimate menu to give you a hand this year. Whether you’ve got the grill ready to go, or are in need of something new and are dreaming big, don’t worry...

  • The Ultimate Grilling Menu
        It’s not summer without a backyard grilling fiesta, and we’ve put together the ultimate menu to give you a hand this year. Whether you’ve got the grill ready to go, or are in need of something new and are dreaming big,...

  • 10 Best Menus for Summer Entertaining
    When the temperatures rise and it stays light out a little longer, we often find ourselves entertaining guests with greater frequency. Maybe you love the feeling of standing barefoot while grilling in the backyard with lush, green grass in between your...

  • 6 Legendary Indianapolis 500 Traditions
    While Memorial Day for many means American flags, the start of summer Fridays, and backyard grilling extravaganzas, it is also the weekend of the “greatest spectacle in racing” — the Indianapolis 500. Taking place at what is thought to...

  • A Picnic Menu for a Crowd
    What better way to end a weekend with friends or family than with an early supper at your local park or beach, or even in the backyard. Picking up sandwiches and chips is an easy solution for a picnic meal, but it can quickly add up and is certainly not...

  • Romantic Picnic for Two Menu
    There is no better way to say I love you this summer than by surprising your significant other with a simple picnic dinner at sunset. Pick a spot that is meaningful to you — maybe it's at the crest of a hill in your favorite park, or on a...

  • 15 Cool Picnic Essentials
    In the warmer months of the year, nothing quite beats a picnic when getting together with friends over a mouth-watering meal. Yet, our modern-day picnicking style isn't quite the same as that of generations before us. While you might still have a...

  • The Perfect Picnic Lunch Menu
    With the weather warmer, I’m sure we can all agree on one thing: even the simplest meals eaten out of doors are more enjoyable (and some may say delicious) than those eaten inside. Maybe it’s the sun beating down on your back, maybe it’s...

  • 11 Embarrassing Cocktail Party Fouls
    I know many a person who loves to throw and attend cocktail parties. But for the rest of us, they can be downright stressful. Will you know anyone there? Can you find someone to strike up a conversation with effortlessly or will you be stuck in the corner...

  • A Casual Luncheon Menu
    Now that more summer-like weather is here, forget the Saturday night dinner parties and instead invite people over for lunch. We’re firing up the grill with this menu featuring mini slider-sized burgers and salads for an easy and delicious meal that...

  • How to Start Your Own Wine Club
    When you walk into a wine shop, what do you do first? Do you casually walk around like I do, looking for recognizable labels even though you know you want one specific bottle of California Chardonnay or Argentinian Malbec (and you know exactly where it is...

  • Romantic Dinner for Two
    When planning your weekly date night with your significant other, do you often opt to dine out? This week, break with the routine and instead make something together at home for a romantic dinner a deux. We’ve pulled together some of our favorite...

  • Tips for Celebrating Apple Pie Day
    May 13th is National Apple Pie Day. Now, as nothing is more All-American than apple pie, this is something to celebrate. Wondering what to do (or what to make)? We’ve got some easy and delicious ideas to inspire you. Host A Pie Potluck If you and...

  • A Late-Night Graduation Party Snack Menu
    For high school graduates, after the formal graduation dinners and lunches with friends and family it’s time to celebrate with friends. From pool parties to boat parties, the night usually ends with a group of friends together at someone’s...

  • 8 Must-Cook Foods for Spring Entertaining
    With farmers’ markets once again teeming with baby greens, spring fruits, and vegetables of all kinds, many home cooks are inspired to get together with friends and cook up these beloved ephemeral specialties for a dinner or cocktail party. For...

  • 9 Ridiculous Graduation Cakes
    It’s that time of year — diplomas, tassels, and polyester gowns are everywhere. And with graduation season come all of the parties for the special graduate along with, of course, a celebratory cake. Lately we've noticed that when it comes...

  • How To Pack the Perfect Picnic Basket
    In the warmer months of the year, nothing quite beats a picnic when getting together with friends over a mouth-watering meal. Whether you’re planning a romantic picnic at sunset for two, or gathering for a picnic dinner with friends (and their kids...

  • A Lazy Weekend Brunch Menu
    Looking for a reason to celebrate this weekend? Whether you’re entertaining weekend house guests or you're having friends over for a leisurely brunch just because the weather is so good, we’ve put together this menu with spring and summer...

  • 5 Amazing Celebrity Baby Showers
    Have you ever found yourself struggling to come up with something unique that will set apart the baby shower you’re throwing? Take cue from celebrity hostess Eva Longoria, who threw a baby bash for Victoria Beckham, and plan a pink tea party (...

  • 7 Tips for Reducing Post-Party Bloat
    Even though Bravo TV star Bethenny Frankel is all about eating healthy, she has experienced a bad food hangover — that haze the morning after an elaborate dinner party or a night with friends spent indulging in too many favorite foods. In her Health...

  • 6 Hosting Tips for Guys
    When you’re getting together with friends, making a restaurant reservation is easy to do. But it’s much more relaxing and enjoyable to kick back with something good to eat and drink at home. Besides, that way you don’t have to stress...

  • 10 Best Drinks for Summer Parties
    Now that we’ve rounded the corner to summer, it’s officially time to begin thinking about grilling, picnics in the park, wearing white, and refreshing warm-weather cocktails. Whether you’re having friends over for a rooftop party,...

  • A Mexican-Themed Dinner for Four
    Now that the warmer weather is here and restaurants and bars are opening up their outdoor seating for one of the best ways to end the work day — outside, with a cold margarita in hand. On Cinco de Mayo, many people in will do just that. But in true...

  • Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed
    What better way to surprise mom on Mother’s Day than with a lovingly-prepared breakfast in bed. This menu is easy enough to put together that morning, and young kids will love to help in the kitchen by making the smoothie or stirring the pancake...

  • Our Favorite Dinner Party Moments on Television
    As any host or hostess knows, getting together friends for dinner or cocktails can be challenging. But being a guest can be burdensome, too (it can be hard to decide on what to bring!). So before you host — or attend — your next dinner party,...

  • How to Make a Salad into a Satisfying Meal
    With spring here, hosting a couple of good friends for an al fresco luncheon in your garden or on the back patio is on the minds of many. And, as many ladies-who-lunch know, a light yet filling salad is a wonderful thing to serve. But there are a few tips...

  • Celebrate Apple Pie Day
    While apple pies have been served in Europe since the 14th century, the all-American favorite we serve today is much different from its distant cousin. The first printed apple pie recipe dates back to 1381, when Geoffrey Chaucer listed ingredients like...

  • How to Celebrate May Day
    May Day is an old pagan holiday that has been celebrated since ancient Roman times. In the northern hemisphere, May 1st marks the end of winter, and is thus a time to celebrate the upcoming growing season. It’s also an occasion to honor Flora, the...

  • 6 Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gifts
    We’ve all been there. With good intentions, we start thinking about what to get mom for Mother’s Day weeks or maybe even a month or two in advance. But maybe none of the ideas seem right, or life catches up with us and those good intentions to...

  • 7 Classic Kentucky Derby Traditions
    While some might dismiss the Kentucky Derby as just another horse race, the multi-day festivities in Louisville, K.Y., are a spectacle like no other. Modeled after the Epsom Derby in the U.K., the Kentucky Derby was established in 1875 in an effort...

  • How to Host Your Own Royal Wedding Viewing Party
    Convinced that your invitation to the Royal Wedding got lost in the mail? Us, too. But that’s not going to stop us from celebrating the royal nuptials stateside. Instead of purchasing those plane tickets to cross the pond, put the money towards...

  • A Dinner Menu to Celebrate Spring
    When you begin to spot tender green lettuces, pencil-straight asparagus, and baby herbs of all kinds again in the market, you know spring has sprung. To celebrate the return of these and a variety of other fruits and vegetables, we’ve put together a...

  • 16 Ways to Make Use of Leftover Hard-Boiled Eggs
    Whether you were hosting a large Easter egg hunt or playing egg games of all kinds, many people are left with carton upon carton of hard-cooked eggs after Easter. Eating cold, hard-boiled eggs for breakfast for a couple of weeks will certainly boost your...

  • 6 Tips for Arranging Spring Flowers
    When you’re hosting a dinner party, there are two things your guests are sure to notice: the meal and the look of the table. This doesn’t mean you have to pull out the bone china and fine silver, but keep it simple — and anchor the...

  • Easter Traditions: The Egg Roll
    Dating back to the early 1800s, the White House Easter Egg Roll is an annual tradition where children and their families with a Presidential invitation would come to play on the White House grounds. In the early years, children would bring their own...

  • A Traditional Greek Easter Menu
    Easter celebrations around the world vary from culture to culture, religion to religion, but there are a few common threads that unite these spring holidays, no matter where you reside: lamb, spring vegetables, and eggs.   The Breaking of the Fast In...

  • Awkward Moments with Martha
    Since September 2005, The Martha Stewart Show has been delivering a daily dose of helpful how-tos, entertaining wisdom, and culinary guidance to creative DIY-ers, hosts and hostesses, and home cooks. With her, we’ve learned how to make the perfect...

  • An Authentic Italian Easter Menu
    Around the world, the Easter holidays have long been a time to celebrate rebirth and renewal (and filled with tradition). In church, Easter marks the end of a time of reflection (Lent) and celebrates Christ's resurrection. The Easter rabbit and dyed...

  • 8 Ways to Fill a Plastic Egg
    While Easter is a celebration of spring and new beginnings, it’s also all about eggs. Along with decorating Easter eggs and Easter baskets, the annual egg hunt is one activity many children look forward to all year-round — partly because of...

  • A Ladies-Only Bridal Shower Menu
    Options abound when it comes to hosting a bridal shower. Some are hosted by the bride’s mother or sisters, or coordinated by the maid of honor and bridesmaids. Others are themed, like an around-the-clock party where each guest brings something for...

  • 3 Kid-Friendly Treats to Celebrate Passover
    During Passover, the consumption of leavened breads and other fermented grain products is prohibited in Jewish culture. Tori Avey of The Shiksa in the Kitchen says this is to commemorate the Jews’ freedom from Egyptian slavery, as when they “...

  • The Ultimate Easter Basket Giveaway
    There is nothing the young at heart (yes, both kids and adults) look forward to more at Easter than baskets filled with foil-wrapped chocolates, sweet gummy candies, and chick- and bunny-shaped treats of all kinds. To help you stuff those baskets, or...

  • A Middle Eastern Mezze Party
    Tell your friends to grab their passports and appetite for adventure and invite them on a culinary journey to the Middle East via your living room. Be inspired by the robust flavors, colors, and aromas of the herbs and spices used in Lebanese cuisine and...

  • 10 Quick-Fix Desserts
    The guests are coming in under three hours and you have no dessert. Whether it's because your planned and partially-executed soufflé failed, or the friend who offered to bring dessert called to say they are no longer coming, there is no reason...

  • 8 Tips for Eco-Friendly Entertaining
    This spring, be inspired by the natural world when throwing your next party. Entertaining in an environmentally sensitive way doesn’t have to be devoid of style. In fact, it can be just the opposite! Think about repurposing everyday items, like...

  • White China: An Entertaining Essential
    Spring is a season of renewal and new beginnings, so there is no better time than now to think about how to refine and revamp your entertaining style and what lies in your cupboards. Start with your dishware. Whether you like bright colors or have a...

  • What to Serve When Playing Board Games
    Game night is back in fashion. And, according to Cynthia Nims, the author of Gourmet Game Night, “it’s not just a generational thing anymore.” More than an after dinner game of cards, a game night is an enjoyable, relaxing, and...

  • 10 Edible Tricks for April Fool’s Day
    April Fool’s Day is the one day out of the year when playing a joke on someone is encouraged. While some tricks, like adding vinegar to the milk to make it go sour or leaving dish soap residue in the coffee maker, are certain to surprise friends or...

  • A Special Birthday Dinner Menu
    There is no gift more generous than a homecooked meal prepared with care. The next time there is a birthday to celebrate, forget the loud and busy restaurant and instead have a dinner at home. Whether they’re turning 12 or 40, the birthday boy or...

  • Outdoor Cocktail Party Menu
    With warmer temperatures and longer days here, many are eager to host their first outdoor or rooftop cocktail party. Having turned our backs to the chill of winter and rich, heavy foods, look to lighter, flavorful appetizers like crab salad-topped blinis...

  • Cookies Outside of the Round
    When one thinks of cookies, the crisp and crunchy, easily-totable kind typically comes to mind. But, according to Alice Medrich, author of Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy: Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies, bars like lemon squares and bite-sized cakes count as...

  • What to Serve When Watching the Game
    From March Madness to the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl to the World Series, there are a couple of weekends throughout the year when all you can think about is getting together with your buddies to watch the big game (and usually whomever has the largest...

  • 10 Great Kids Party Ideas
    As a child, nothing else quite tops your birthday (okay, maybe Christmas wins out) as the best day of the year. While parents might only remember the late nights spent baking cupcakes the day before (and the last-minute frosting of cupcakes the next...

  • Runaway Deviled Eggs
    Deviled eggs are a cocktail party favorite, especially down South. They’re easy to make and served cold, allowing you to make them in advance. Plus, they are the ideal vehicle for a variety of garnishes and flavorings, from the simple sweet relish...

  • Chef-Designed Dishware
    When it comes to entertaining, nothing quite beats a basic white set of dishes. Durable enough for everyday wear and tear, the right set of plates would also be classy enough to bring out when the grandparents come to visit. But there comes a time, for...

  • Have Enough Appetizers?
    You’ve set the date, invited the guests, and planned the menu of appetizers you will be serving. Now one question remains — how much food should you prepare? We recently had a chance to sit down with Gwen McKee, author along with Barbara...

  • Brownie Mix Giveaway Winner!
    Congratulations to Amanda for winning an autographed box of Baked's Brownie Mix! Her recipe for Gingerbread Cake with Grand Marnier Buttercream Frosting stood out for its creativity and delicious flavors. By using applesauce instead of butter and...

  • Cocktails and Sweets for Celebrating Purim
    Purim is a holiday honoring Esther, the Queen of Persia, who stood up for her Jewish community and saved them from genocide. Beginning at sundown on March 19th, the one-day celebration gives individuals a chance to have fun and celebrate their heritage...

  • Best Ethnic Food Neighborhoods in America
    Sure, it'd be nice to score a table at the city's hottest restaurant when in town for a long weekend, but some of the most memorable meals can be had for a lot less cash and a much more adventurous ambience. For that, we look to the many deeply...

  • Rick Bayless' Ultimate Guacamole Bar
    As far as party appetizers go, guacamole is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to make, friendly for those who are gluten-free, vegetarian, or lactose intolerant, and is so good. And, with the addition of chunky tomatoes, jalapeños, and...

  • Romantic Dinners for Two
    While dining out relieves you of cooking a meal (and doing the dishes), it’s not always a relaxing or romantic experience, especially when you're situated an elbow's length from your neighbor and the person behind you is talking quite...

  • 10 Unusual Wedding Cakes
    He has popped the question and you've said yes. The date has been set and you’ve secured a location. But have you thought about what kind of wedding cake you would like? While the options for wedding cakes are nearly limitless, the process of...

  • 11 Ways to Celebrate Pi with Pie!
    First established in 1989 (and recognized officially by the House of Representatives in 2009), March 14th, or 3/14, is National Pi Day. As there is no better way to celebrate this mathematical constant than with pies of all kinds, we’ve created a...

  • A Modern Irish Dinner
    This St. Patrick’s Day, instead of shepherd’s pie and pint upon pint of Guinness, opt for a more elegant meal featuring modern Irish dishes that use fresh, seasonal produce. We asked Wade Murphy, executive head chef at The Lodge at Doonbeg in...

  • Family-Friendly Dinner Menus
    Cooking one meal that will appease both the simple palates of children and the more refined tastes of adults can be a challenge. Yet there is no need to plan two separate menus to feed the crowd gathered around your table the next time you host the...

  • 9 Fast-Food Dinner Party Fixes
    You’re hosting a dinner party for 12 and planning on making chicken burritos from scratch. There is rice to cook, chicken to roast, beans to simmer, garnishes to prepare… and only then can you roll the burritos. While you might know your way...

  • 7 Places to Shop Like a Chef
    When traveling, you might think to stop for dinner at the nearest go-to hotspot run by a star chef. Yet, your enjoyment of that chef’s delicious cuisine is likely fleeting — what will you eat once you return home? The next time you pack...

  • A New Orleans-Style Brunch
    Mardi Gras is a celebration like no other. While Mobile, Ala. may be home to the original Mardi Gras, New Orleans is home to the largest and most grand celebration, with attendees dressed up in their finest to watch their favorite krewes parade by day...

  • Baked Deep and Dark Brownie Mix Giveaway
    They’ve been called one of the best brownies in the U.S. These “little bit cakey, a little bit fudgy, [and] a lot velvety” treats have also made Oprah's favorites list.  If you haven’t had one yet, don't worry...

  • A Big Easy Dinner Menu
    If you can’t make it to the French Quarter this year, bring the spirit and revelry of Mardi Gras into your own home with a traditional, down-home Cajun meal. We asked one of Louisiana’s own, Chef John Besh of Restaurant August to put...

  • Stocking the Bar: Mardi Gras Brunch Cocktails
    To celebrate Mardi Gras like they do in the Big Easy, get your friends together for a day-long celebration filled with rich, fried foods and lots of cocktails. To help you stock the bar for the party, we asked Chef Chris Lusk and Bar Chef Lu Brow of New...

  • 9 Menus for Cold-Weather Entertaining
    There is no better way to beat the winter blues than to invite your friends over for a hearty, delicious meal and good conversation. To lift your spirits, we've put together a list of our nine favorite menus that are perfect to serve guests...

  • 5 Risottos Fit for Entertaining
    Having friends over for dinner?  Have them join you in the kitchen (and take turns stirring) as you make a big pot of risotto. Don’t be intimidated by this one-pot dinner. If it’s your first or second time making risotto, start with...

  • A Cassoulet Supper
    If you can’t make it to Paris this year, bring the "City of Light" into your own home with this warm and comforting French bistro meal from Laurent Quenioux, the Executive Chef at Vertical Wine Bar in Pasadena, Calif. Once the...

  • Oscar Night Cocktail Party Menu
    Who are you wearing? While Oscar night means dress stress for Hollywood stars, you get to watch them parade down the red carpet from the comfort of your own home. This Sunday, take a cue from the laid-back, oceanside character of Southern California and...

  • Tips for Stylish, Stress-Free Entertaining
    Hosting a dinner party at home can be daunting. There are menus to plan, food to cook, tables to set, and flowers to arrange — it’s no wonder that many hosts and hostesses wear themselves out with the planning. But entertaining at home doesn...

  • A Simple Dinner Party Menu
    We recently sat down with Michael Leva and Nancy Parker, authors of Recipes for Parties, to talk about their secrets for hosting stylish parties without a lot of stress. They shared their tips for setting the perfect table for the occasion, creating...

  • Summer Camps for Food Lovers
    Remember those summer camps for over-achievers who wanted to learn, say, astronomy in three short weeks or intensive art camps for would-be potters and painters? Those were the halcyon days when you believed you could be anything you wanted to be --...

  • A Red Carpet Oscars Party
    The glitz, glamour, and excitement of the Oscars are contagious, even if you’re not a movie fanatic. Celebrate the biggest night in Hollywood by rolling out the red carpet in your own home. Tell your guests to dress “red carpet chic,”...

  • A Serving Board from Nature
    The cheese plate. It’s a cocktail or dinner party staple that is easy to assemble, doesn’t require time in the oven or on the stove, and allows guests to help themselves to whatever they please. Plus, cheese on crackers is a perfect match...

  • Host Your Own Soup Exchange Party
    When it comes to warming winter foods, nothing quite tops soup. It’s easy to make, and can be tailored to suit a variety of tastes, whether you’re craving something hearty, light, with meat, or gluten-free. It’s also readily portable,...

  • Spa-Inspired Dinner Party
    Do the mid-winter doldrums have you down? Have you been staying away from hosting dinner parties in an effort to avoid all the tempting, rich dishes you might normally cook when entertaining? Then lift your spirits and reset your mind and body than with...

  • 3 Pans for Roasting Chicken
    You don’t need to have a giant roasting pan on hand to properly cook a chicken at home. We’ve scoured the market for some of the best products out there; these are our favorites.   Emile Henry Oval Gratin Baking Dish Credit: Emile...

  • For Easy Entertaining, Roast a Chicken
    A whole roasted chicken is a dish that is so simple and basic — easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but also elegant enough to serve for a Saturday night dinner party. It is also a starting point for making a variety of other dishes for nearly any...

  • Meals on the Run
    Whether you’re running out the door trying to get the kids to school, or rushing to meetings across town, sometimes our busy schedules get the better of us and we forget to eat. We’ve all had those moments when it's been hours since we...

  • Winter Dinner Party Menu
    There is nothing like hosting a dinner party with your closest friends to take your mind off of winter’s seemingly endless string of gray/snowy/rainy days. On the day of your party, light a fire in the fireplace, set the table with rustic linens,...

  • Stocking the Bar: Cupid-Approved Cocktails
    Even though Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year (meaning no overly-boozy leisurely weekend brunches), we’ve come up with some easy ways to spice up your cocktail offerings this February 14th. Save the Rosé Champagne for another...

  • How Mr. Chocolate Makes His Chocolates
    What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate? Long associated with passion, chocolate has been thought to be a potent source of vitality, energy, and power since the days of the Aztecs, who often consumed it as a spicy drink to fortify the body...

  • Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties Fit for a Chef
    Bachelor and bachelorette parties are a special opportunity for close friends to get together to celebrate a bride or groom’s last days of being single. If you're planning a party for a bride and groom for whom food is the way to their...

  • 10 Best Food Markets in Asia
    From snack streets to night markets, hawker stalls to department store floors dedicated solely to food, finding good food is not difficult when traveling in Asia, as long as you know where to look. Those who've never eaten from a street food vendor...

  • Anti-Valentine’s Day Celebrations
    Valentine’s Day is one of the more over-commercialized holidays of the year, with lots of pink and white candies, cards, and goodies being thrown at you left and right. But, more than that, it is about thoughtfulness — doing something special...

  • Pots to Use When Braising
    When it comes to warm and comforting wintertime dishes, nothing quite beats a hearty braise for a filling dinner party dish that doesn’t require a lot of attention (or can be made in advance) and can be brought directly to the table from the stove...

  • 4 Tips for a Homemade Chinese New Year Party
    Chinese New Year is one of the largest and most important holidays in Chinese culture. Like our traditional New Year, the Chinese New Year not only signifies a transition in the calendar, but it also gives people a chance to start anew and exchange wishes...

  • A Disney Dining Guide
    Taking your kids on their dream vacation and enjoying top-notch dining? Sounds like an oxymoron. But actually, spending time at a Disneyland or Walt Disney World doesn’t mean you have to resort to hot dogs and pretzels for lunch (though don’t...

  • Mugs for Wintertime Drinks
    When you come indoors from playing in the cold winter air, nothing warms you up from the inside better than a cup of your favorite hot drink (while warming your cold fingers by wrapping them around the mug). Yet, we often forget about serving guests a mug...

  • Warming Drinks for Winter Entertaining
    When the snow is falling, and the temperatures are dropping, offering dinner guests a crisp, cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc or flute of bubbly no longer has the same appeal that it does in the summer or fall. Yes, a glass of a big, fruity Syrah might warm...

  • 9 Gourmet Train Trips
    When it comes to traveling, access to good food is a must. Today, the food options aboard airplanes are miserable for most (unless, you’re lucky enough to travel in business or first class). Airports understand this, and are catering to people...

  • Heart-Shaped Foods for Valentine's Day
    On Valentine’s Day, you don't need to pull out all the stops for the loved ones in your life. No fancy chocolates, no indulgent dishes to prepare (though, it does make the occasion special and romantic). Stick with what works, but with a little...

  • Toast-Worthy Cocktail Glasses
    The next time you need to raise a glass to toast a friend or family member, think about these fun handblown glasses that are printed with the word for “cheers” in a half-dozen, international languages, including French, Spanish, German, Hebrew...

  • An Indulgent Valentine’s Day Menu
    For some, Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays you want to avoid going out to dinner on. Forget the overpriced restaurant menus with rigid prix fixe options; do you really want to be eating out surrounded by people on a holiday that celebrates...

  • Valentine’s Day Moments You Want to Forget
    Gearing up for the holiday? Whether you’re single, or sharing the holiday with a loved one, we want to hear all about your Valentine’s Day culinary good intentions gone wrong for an upcoming story. Burnt the roast, forgot the wine, or drank...

  • Create-Your-Own Flavored Popcorn
    Remember those giant tins of popcorn, often divided by flavors into three sections — DayGlo orange cheese, caramel corn, and plain buttered popcorn — that are usually gifted around the office during the holidays? While the popcorn...

  • 5 Amazing Ice Hotels
    Have you ever dreamed of staying in an ice palace? Though it sounds like something from a fairytale, a hotel made of ice isn't for the faint of heart. Shelve your sunnies and beach towel — this is the perfect vacation for someone who loves the...

  • Winter Stews
    The winter is the best time to serve body-warming soups and rich braises full of fork-tender meat. A stew is essentially a hybrid of these dishes. While braising occurs over a very long period of time, and at a low temperature, stewing can be done in only...

  • Dean Fearing's Ultimate Super Bowl
    2011 marks the first year that the Super Bowl is being held in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and only the third time it has been held in Texas. So, to properly celebrate Super Bowl XLV, it would only be fitting to look to Texas for inspiration when planning...

  • Bowl-Friendly Snacks
     When having guests over, one of my favorite go-to entertaining tricks is to put out little bowls of snacks or candy. Growing up, my mom would always place little baskets, filled with a combination of honey-roasted cashews, raisins, and M&M...

  • Edible Crafts for Kids
    With the winter weather forcing kids to play indoors, keeping them engaged — and from tearing apart the house — can become a challenge for parents within a couple of days. Instead of turning on a movie or caving in to video games, plan a...

  • 10 Unique Wine Tasting Experiences
    So you're planning a trip to Napa, where you'll rent a car for a few days of laid-back wine tasting, or if you’re really going to drink, you'll arrange for a chauffered van or bus. So much fun the first time, but it can get a little old...

  • Stocking the Bar: Essentials for Entertaining
    You come home, exhausted after a long day at the office and the one thing you’re craving is a simple scotch on the rocks. Opening up the liquor cabinet, you are surprised, and saddened, to find that you are all out of scotch. And rum. And tequila....

  • Olympic Birthday Party
    For parents of children born in the winter months, it can often be a challenge to come up with an interesting birthday party activity for an active group of six year-olds. But with a little creativity, and if you clear the furniture out of the living room...

  • 3 Caribbean Resorts Growing Organics
    You shop every week at your local farmers market, choosing only the freshest fruits and vegetables that are in season. Now, imagine eating the same way when you vacation on an arid Caribbean island. Impossible? Think again. Many of the Caribbean's...

  • Modern-Day Casseroles
    It’s the word many of us cringe upon hearing. Casseroles. Memories of the classic green bean casserole, made with condensed cream of mushroom soup and topped with crispy onions, may come to mind for some, while the mention of tuna noodle casserole...

  • Proper Regifting Etiquette
    It’s the moment many dread most: You’re sitting by the fire opening gifts at your extended family’s Christmas party. You’re handed a rather heavy gift from a family member, and wonder what it could be (clearly not a sweater, sigh...

  • Wintertime Braised Meals
    In the cold and dark days of winter, very few dishes top a steaming dish of fork-tender braised short ribs. Slowly braising tough cuts of meat leaves it so tender it falls off the bone, and the connective tissues and fat render down, enriching the sauce....

  • New Year’s Resolutions for Entertaining
    As we've turned the corner to a new year, you may be working on shedding those last 10 pounds or vowing to finally clean out that dumping ground of a hall closet, but have you thought about making resolutions when it comes to your entertaining style?...

  • 5 Easy and Healthy Make-Ahead Meal Ideas for Weeknight Dinners
    Between the triple-cream cheeses served at cocktail parties, the free-flowing alcohol at parties, and course upon course of rich foods served during the holidays, your body is probably not running at its peak. To help ease you back into your old healthy...

  • A Special New Year's Eve Dinner Menu
    From caviar and Champagne, to puffy gougères and dense chocolate cakes, New Year’s Eve is the last no-holds-barred holiday of the year and there is no reason why you should not indulge. Take inspiration from these recipes when planning the...

  • Last-Minute Christmas Dinner Fixes
    For many, Christmas dinner is one of the most festive meals prepared all year (maybe even more so than Thanksgiving). You spend weeks planning the menu, decorating your home, cooking and baking, in anticipation of the meal. Some may entertain large...

  • Christmas Morning Menus
    Think about Sunday morning breakfasts, lounging around in your pajamas, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper by the fire, or with your back washed in sunlight. These are quiet moments, lingering over breakfast, together with your significant other or...

  • An International Christmas Menu
    We asked a series of New York City restaurant chefs to share some of their favorite Christmas dishes with us. From Italy to Great Britain, Sweden to France, these dishes will take you on a European tour, from the comfort of your own home.   Italy...

  • Good Luck New Year's Foods
    Before you usher in the New Year with a glass of bubbly, make sure you have on hand some of these foods. In a variety of cultures, it is thought that by eating one of these foods on New Year's Eve or Day, you will bring yourself wealth, prosperity, or...

  • Re-Purposing Your Favorite Christmas Foods
    It’s an inevitable part of the holidays. You are expecting lots of guests, so you make sure to make lots of food (or, you’re gifted a lot of food), but no one is able to finish it all, leaving you with all the leftovers. While we can’t...

  • Ice Skating Menu
    With the winter officially here and snow falling around much of the country, now is the time to head outside and play. Whether you choose to go skating at the nearest rink, or choose instead to find the closest sledding hill, nothing beats coming home to...

  • How to Host a Cookie Exchange Party
    Cookie exchanges are a fun excuse to gather your closest friends for an afternoon by the fire. And what more do many people love than to bake sweet treats for others (okay, maybe eating those sweet treats). In their book, “Very Merry Cookie Party:...

  • Dips and Trays for Any Occasion
    For the busy host or hostess, nothing quite beats the 2-in-1 chip and dip tray. Your guests know exactly what chip (or other accoutrement) you've paired with what dip, and there is no need to have multiple bowls scattered around the table. Plus, it...

  • 10 Places to Indulge for Après-Ski
    It’s four o’clock in the afternoon, and you’re headed down to the base after a long day of skiing. All of a sudden, 500 yards from the bottom, you catch the scent of one of your favorite foods, and the next thing you know, you’re...

  • Christmas Menus for Every Budget
    As you plan your Christmas feasts, be inspired by our holiday dinner menus ideas, one comfort food, recession-chic meal, and the other an over-the-top-indulgent feast.     A Comfort Food, Recession-Chic Menu: A festive four-course meal that won...

  • 10 Over-the-Top Gingerbread Houses
    During the holidays, decorating gingerbread houses is a tradition in many families, along with cookie decorating, that everyone looks forward to. However, given people's competitive spirit, there is always someone looking to up-the-ante to see who can...

  • Tips for Hosting a Cookie Decorating Party
    While intricately decorated cookies are found year-round in a variety of seasonal shapes and sizes, there are probably more cookie decorating parties in the month of December than in the remaining 11 months of the year, combined. Whether you’re...

  • How to Decorate Cookies like a Professional
    During the holidays, Jay Muse's team at Lulu Cake Boutique creates eye-catching cookies that almost look too nice to eat. We asked Jay to walk us through the steps of creating professional-looking sugar cookies. While these beautifully decorated...

  • Last-Minute Online Gourmet Gift Ideas
    Whether you are a food-lover scrambling for ideas on what to ask for this holiday season, or looking for the perfect last minute gift for the kitchen-savvy person who has everything, look no further — we've put together some of our favorite...

  • Personalized Cocktail Glasses
    You know the situation. You’re in a room with over 20 people, and you’re each drinking red wine from the same exact wine glass. Two of you put your glass down to get a piece of cheese, or set your glasses down on the coffee table before...

  • Visiting Santa Claus' North Pole Hometown
    What's that we hear? Bells jingling and the choo choo of the Polar Express. Actually, getting to Santa's North Pole home is easier than you think — just a plane's ride to Scandanavia.  We’re not talking about the North Pole...

  • Holiday Flavors: Blood Orange
    ‘Tis the season for eggnog and Christmas cookies, and also for the much-loved blood orange. With the first specimens of the season arriving in markets in mid-December, the holidays wouldn’t be complete with something blood orange in your home...

  • Homemade Gift Guide
    Whether you’re looking for a special gift for that difficult person on your list, a delicious gift for friends, or for a unique and useful hostess gift, something made with love at home can be much more meaningful and memorable to receive. Making...

  • Party-Perfect Eggnog
    Starting the week of Thanksgiving, eggnog begins to appear on store shelves around the country. From lattes to ice cream, truffles to candles, eggnog is a seasonal treat — and scent — that signifies Christmas. While it may be too...

  • 8 Edible Spa Treatments
    Food is not just for eating anymore — the last time you were at a hotel or spa, you may have noticed a service or two that sounded, well, down right delicious. We're talking more than just fresh cucumber rounds for de-puffing eyes, or homemade...

  • Stocking the Bar: Entertaining for the Holidays
    It’s the time of year when friends gather and the alcohol is always flowing. Before you host your next cocktail or dinner party, you’ll inventory your bar. For advice on how to stock a festive bar for the holiday season, we turned to well-...

  • Open House Menu
    With your house decorated for the holidays, and a crisp chill in the air, what better way to spread good cheer than to open your home to friends and family for a festive holiday open house cocktail party. Mix and match a couple of these for a delicious...

  • Top Holiday Tips for Easy Entertaining
    When it comes to entertaining for friends and family during the holidays, catering to people’s dietary restrictions, favorites, and traditions can make determining your holiday menu a challenge in and of itself — without even stepping...

  • Holiday Party: 12 Days of Christmas
    Who doesn’t love the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas?" Be inspired by this holiday favorite and host your own “12 Days” themed party with 12 of your best friends.   Attire: Suggest that each guest come in costume,...

  • Holiday Party: Christmas "Eve" Sleepover
    While Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning are often spent with family, there is no reason why close friends can’t host their own “Christmas” gathering — complete with sleepover — a weekend or two before the big...

  • Holiday Party: Top Chef-Inspired Cookie Exchange
    In a season of indulgences, why not continue the theme and host a bubbles and sweets cookie exchange? Instead of purchasing gifts, ask each guest to make their “best” decadent cookie recipe, bring along the recipe to share. In true Top Chef...

  • Holiday Party: The Ugly Christmas Sweater
    Think back to grade school, when your mom outfitted you in those terrible cotton holiday sweaters, complete with glittered yarn, bells, mini presents, and more. While sweaters like this may have no daily function in your closet, there is one time of year...

  • Holiday Party: Naughty or Nice?
    Is Santa going to deliver coal in your stocking this year, or have you been nice? Host a party with this question in mind.   Attire: Think preppy school-boys and Catholic school-girls. Décor: Just like devil meets angel, think black and...

  • 5 Unique Holiday Party Ideas
    Instead of hosting a traditional Christmas party this year, host a gathering that your friends or family will never forget. We've put together five themed holiday parties to help inspire you this year, complete with menu suggestions, beverage...

  • Cleaning with Kitchen Staples
    Your home bar is an unlikely place to look for cleaning supplies when you run out of Windex and your guests are due in 15 minutes. But, when mixed with a little water, plain vodka makes an effective cleaning solution that will leave both your mirrors,...

  • Roll-Your-Own Rugelach
    The unmistakable smell of warm butter and flour baking in the oven is a holiday favorite for many bakers. It's a scent that Joanna Perl, of Perl Girl Baking Co., loves... But her friends? "Baking all day, I always smell like rugelach." Perl...

  • Fromagers' 9 Favorite Cheeses
    Cheese is a holiday entertaining favorite, but with all the varieties available today, many are befuddled on what to choose. To help inspire us the next time we go to the market, we asked some cheesemongers from around the country what cheeses are on...

  • The Best Chocolate To Buy
    There are so many chocolates on the market these days. From white chocolate to the numerous kinds of varietal dark chocolates, one can easily get overwhelmed when shopping. As we begin thinking about holiday baking, and gifting artisanal chocolates, many...

  • Foodie-Friendly Advent Calendars
    Having grown up with homemade, personalized advent calendars, there is certainly something memorable and meaningful about opening a door, or reaching into a pocket, each day when you know someone specifically planted that chocolate or saying with you in...

  • St. Lucia's Day Menu
    St. Lucia’s Day is one of the largest holidays in Sweden, and in other parts of Scandinavia, and honors St. Lucia, the patron saint of light. Traditionally, the eldest daughter often plays “St. Lucia,” donning a white robe, red ribbons,...

  • Michael Recchiuti's Homemade Rolled Chocolate Truffles
    Chocolate always brings smiles to people’s faces. Some love the gentle snap of dark chocolate, as a small piece for savoring is broken off a bar. For others, it is the sweet melting quality of milk chocolate, or the subtle aromas of dark varietal...

  • Edible Hanukkah Activities for Kids
    Every child loves playing with food, and what better way to enjoy crafted creations than by eating it when all is said and done. So, instead of thinking of favorite holiday games or crafts to do with children this week, our stomachs got the better of us....

  • Latke Potluck Party
    After the Thanksgiving turkey is roasted, and all the leftovers have been eaten – and eaten again, many people’s stomachs begin gearing up for another favorite foodie holiday, Hanukkah. This celebration of lights honors the miracle of oil, and...

  • Entertaining with Ease
    For many of us, the holidays are a time of indulgence; we roll out the best of our best, pour our heart and soul into the gifts we make, the energy we give to others, and the dishes we prepare – even in how we deck our halls and tables with good...

  • Host Your Own Olive Oil Tasting
    Many Americans have conducted wine tastings, cheese tastings, even beer tastings at home. But, olive oil tastings? There are an amazing variety of flavors of olive oils available today, with an array of flavors that will surprise many. Instead of holding...

  • Gourmet Olive Oils, Uncovered
    Nicholas Coleman, Chief Olive Oil Specialist at Eataly, in New York, has spent many years participating in the olive harvest and oil production in Tuscany. So, when we wanted to learn more about olive oil, we knew just whom to turn to. When it comes to...

  • A Lighter Thanksgiving Leftover Menu
    Small Plates: Turkey Chopped Salad Make use of that turkey—but instead slathering it in rich gravy, make a creamy dressing with healthy avocado. Turkey Arepas Serve a couple of these with a side of vegetables (leftover green beans) for a balanced...

  • Hanukkah Deep-Fried Foods Menu
    Known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday that celebrates the miracle of oil. The best-known food eaten during Hanukkah are latkes, but we've got some new flavors for you to infuse into your Hanukkah celebration this year...

  • Sunday Night Dinner Party
    Sunday night is a perfect night to invite over a couple close friends for a relaxing meal before the work week begins, especially when your menu revolves around an easy, one-pot dish.   Starters: Easy Caesar Salad Dressing From The Family Chef Make...

  • Filling Breakfast Menu Ideas
    It’s true. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, setting the stage for how you eat — and the cravings that incur — later. Maybe you ate too much over Thanksgiving, and are vowing to start your day off right with a...

  • How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea
    One of the most popular beverages in the world, tea both unifies and distinguishes cultures from one another. But, have you ever had a cup of tea that just doesn't taste right, or left your mouth dry? There is an art, and a proper technique, to...

  • Host a Tea Party
    "Tea is the original comfort food," says Elizabeth Knight, a Certified Tea Master and founder of Tea with Friends. It is also the second most popular beverage in the world, according to Takeshi Watanabe who teaches the Culture of Tea at...

  • Cookbook Giveaway!
    In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we're giving away a free cookbook! Send us your best gluten-free recipe by Wednesday for a chance to win The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook, by Elana Amsterdam of Elana's Pantry. You've got a little less than...

  • A Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Primer
    When it comes to pairing wines with Thanksgiving dishes, it’s can be quite overwhelming. Will the same wine you pair with your turkey and gravy go well with sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce? And from Pinot to Syrah, what grape to choose? The Four...

  • Thanksgiving Graces
    Thanksgiving is a holiday where, historically, friends and family gathered to celebrate — and be thankful for — the harvest’s bounty. Over the years, the holiday has lost many of its religious roots, but the spirit of thankfulness has...

  • Beer and Cheese: A Surprisingly Happy Marriage
    When it comes to pairing cheese, I always think of wine. So, when Martin Johnson, a cheese aficionado and consultant with over 20 years of experience, recently paired up with Ray Deter, the owner of d.b.a. Brooklyn  (also New York and New...

  • A History of the Cornucopia
    Derived from the Latin “cornu” meaning horn, and “copia” meaning plenty, the cornucopia has long been used as a common harvest symbol associated with a plentiful bounty. Historically, a real goat’s horn, filled with fruits...

  • Post-Thanksgiving Leftovers Party Ideas
    After hosting Thanksgiving, no one really wants to slave all day in the kitchen... but people are hungry for Thanksgiving leftovers. When Chef Michael Chiarello told us about his traditional day-after Make-Your-Own Panini Party, we thought: Why not have...

  • Chefs' Favorite Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
    When one thinks of Thanksgiving, they often think about the bird roasting in the oven, breast-side up, simply slathered with butter. But, if you think about it, the possibilities for cooking turkey are endless; it’s just like a chicken, but a whole...

  • Last-Minute Thanksgiving Appetizers and Desserts
    Did the dog eat the cheese plate? Or, are you so focused on your turkey dinner that you don’t have the time or energy to make an appetizer or dessert for your small Thanksgiving meal? Never fear—just because you're roasting a whole bird,...

  • 10 Easy Dishes to Wow Your Guests
    Often, some of the most impressive dishes are not that difficult to prepare. Take, for example, short ribs. Once they’re slowly braising, as long as you keep the temperature low, you can nearly forget about them. Inspired by dishes we’ve made...

  • Inspiring Thanksgiving Centerpieces
    When preparing your home for Thanksgiving, or any gathering, sometimes finding inspiration when creating eye-catching centerpieces can be difficult. So, to help inspire you this Thanksgiving, we turned to Peter, at Florisity in New York City, and Pilar,...

  • Thanksgiving Turkey Tips
    Chef Lauren Braun Costello, The Competent Cook, has roasted quite a few turkeys in her life. So, when we sat down with her to ask her what tips she has for turkey-roasters this Thanksgiving, she had lots of helpful information to share.   1. Never...

  • 6 Thanksgiving Activities For Kids and Adults
    With 20 cousins, aunts, and uncles, holiday gatherings in my family are never dull. But, instead of being cast-off in a room somewhere else, the “kids table” is always close to the “grown-ups” table. It’s not often that we...

  • Brining Thanksgiving Turkeys
    When it comes to turkey, most cooks (and turkey-eaters) are concerned with having moist and flavorful turkey grace their guest’s plates at Thanksgiving. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, magazines and food websites abound with turkey recipes...

  • Moroccan Dinner Party Menu
    Most of the ingredients in these recipes can be found in your local market, or online. If you reside in New York City, the 16 area Food Emporium markets are offering a "Taste of Morocco," featuring a variety of authentic Moroccan foods,...

  • Warming Soup Meal Menu
    Soups are a wonderful menu item when entertaining, as you can make them in advance and have them warming on the stove when your guests arrive. When creating a menu of your own, we recommend choosing one salad, two soups, and a dessert...and a hearty loaf...

  • How to Create Your Own Cheese Plate
    When inviting friends over, hosts and hostesses often put out a couple of cheeses to go with pre-dinner drinks. It’s easy to assemble, with no cooking required, and everyone loves cheese. But, many of us panic when choosing what kinds of cheese to...

  • A California-Inspired Menu
    When you host your next dinner party, transport your guests to California with this hearty meal featuring recipes from renowned chef, cookbook author, and winegrower Michael Chiarello, and his Napa Valley restaurant, Bottega. Each recipe features a...

  • Top 10 Holiday Meal Horrors
    Every family has a couple of horror stories from Thanksgivings past. Maybe your brother's girlfriend hijacked Thanksgiving, or your oven broke while the turkey was cooking. We asked you—our readers—to share your worst nightmare experiences...

  • Michael Chiarello's Guide to Eataly
    Leave it to Dave Pasternack, the chef at Esca and Il Pesce at Eataly, to find the perfect description for it: “Studio 54, but in a supermarket, at night." Indeed, the Batali-Bastianich mega-temple of Italian food, Eataly, burst onto the...

  • Stock Your Pantry: Essentials for Last-Minute Entertaining
    Whether it’s your college roommate who calls as she’s driving through town, or dear mom and dad who spring a surprise visit on you one weekend day, there are often quite a few unplanned visits from friends or family during the holidays. With...

  • Diwali Sweets
    Diwali (also known as Divali, or Deepavali) is this weekend. Last year, President Obama celebrated Diwali by lighting a candle; he can do the same this year when he arrives in India on the 5th. This five-day festival of lights is a magical and joyous...

  • A Chili For Every Taste
    Just because you don't eat meat or tomatoes doesn't mean you can't eat chili.   Appetizer: Forty Shades of Green Salad From Fine Cooking A light green salad is a wonderful complement – and light start – to a meal of hearty and...

  • Marathon Menu
    Starting Line Basics: Tasty Thirty Minute Minestrone From Centsational Girl A perfect nutrient-rich, quick and easy soup that will also warm you up.   Warm Butternut Arugula Salad From Sweet Tea and Sunshine For greens-lovers, the inclusion of...

  • Host Your Own Chili Party
    Nothing says fall more than gathering with friends, sipping beer and cider, and sharing a meal of hearty chilis, cornbread, caramel apples, and bourbon cupcakes, all while under the canopy of crimson-colored branches. This past weekend, Amanda Glendinning...

  • Thanksgiving Timeline
    The most important thing to remember at Thanksgiving isn’t the food, or the table. It is the reason why we celebrate the holiday. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to bring together the people around us who mean the most; to share a delicious meal; to...

  • Sunday Brunch Menu
    These brunch favorites to make at home are easy, delicious, and full of fresh flavors. Each dish can be scaled to feed both two people, or a crowd.   Breakfast Drinks: Melon Made Sippable From Orangette The concept of liquefying the tender flesh of a...

  • Autumn Tabletop Decor
    There is something about late fall, the brilliantly colored falling leaves, pumpkins on stoops, and the bounty of bright red cranberries at the market that is magical. People enjoy decorating their entryways with bales of hay, and maybe a bunch of Indian...

  • TV and Movie Drinking Games
    When the weather turns cooler, going out on weekends is not as appealing (especially when it is snowing or raining) as staying in and having friends over. If the chit-chat turns dry, and board games are, well, boring, try popping your favorite movie in...

  • Top 5 Rules for Hosts and Houseguests
    With Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas nearly around the corner, many people are assembling their travel plans for the holidays. Whether you are visiting - or hosting - your friends or your family, sometimes the visits can turn from delightful to...

  • Healthy, Flavorful Cooking Essentials
    Just because you’re watching your waistline doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor. This is especially relevant as the holiday season nears. Everybody expects to put on a couple of extra pounds from Thanksgiving through New Year's and...

  • Stock Your Pantry: Spices
    If you’ve had your spices for over two years, or they are no longer fragrant, it is time to replace them. Spices are best stored in a cold and dark place.   Essentials: Dried Bay Leaves Black peppercorns – choose whole and then...

  • Host Your Own Board Game Party
    After a busy work week, nothing is more appealing to some than starting a fire in the fireplace and inviting friends over for a night of fun in your own home. For an evening of guaranteed fun that is also low-key and  budget-friendly, bring out the...

  • Taste-Off: Pasta vs. Pasta
    As the line blurs between “health” food and “regular” food (isn’t it cool to eat healthy these days?), producers are on the lookout for the next great thing. Einkorn is one such example. An ancient grain, first grown by man...

  • Autumnal Weeknight Dinner Menu
    Making dinner at home during the week doesn't have to be an all-day production. Mix and match these dishes to create a menu that works for you. Many can be made ahead, or re-purposed into another evening's dinner, if you wish.   Salads:...

  • Football Tailgate Menu
    Snacks: Creamy Spinach Dip From Eating Well A healthier alternative to classic Ranch dressings. Perfect with crudites or pita chips.   Longhorn Tequila Wings From Food52/thirschfeld Though these are three-step wings, they are super easy to...

  • OLD Houseguest Horrors
    Ever had a houseguest that slept ‘til noon every day? Or one who dropped their wet towels all over the place? Every host or hostess has a nightmare story of their own. For my friend, it was her evil sister-in-law, whose presence alone would cause a...

  • Canning for Home Cooks – Preserving Fall’s Finest
    With the harvest season winding down, many people forget about the simple and delicious ways to preserve these ripe fruits and vegetables for the cold winter months. For the uninitiated, canning at home can seem intimidating, but with the proper equipment...

  • Kid-Friendly Menu for a Playdate
    Getting the kids fed, and lunches made, before you send them off to school in the morning is a challenge enough for many moms and dads. So, when they invite friends over to play, you want a meal that is healthy, quick and easy — AND that your little...

  • 10 Creative Bread Pudding Recipes
    Have some leftover croissants, doughnuts, quick breads or brioche lying around? Bread pudding is a quick and easy go-to dish that can be both elegant and economical. The dishes below can be made ahead and reheated when it’s time to serve. Whether...

  • French Bistro Dinner Menu
    This menu will transport you to a street-side table at one of Paris' finest bistros.   Cocktails and Nibbles: Sundried Tomato Palmiers From Your Homebased Mom A savory twist on the sweet puff pastry favorite.   Union Square Cafe Bar...

  • Bake Sale Menu
    Now that the kids are back in school, it's back to bake sale time. Whether the sale is for your 3rd grader's class trip, or your 10th grader's swim team fundraiser, these sweet favorites will sell out fast.   Cookies: Pumpkin Oatmeal...

  • Finger Foods Cocktail Party Menu
    We’ve put together a menu with a variety of foods and flavors sure to satisfy your guests.   Vegetarian Options: Lemon Garlic Artichokes with Mint From The Dinner Files Slowly cooked artichokes are labor-intensive, but delicious when paired...

  • Halloween Dinner Party Menu
    A Halloween-themed dinner party, complete with spooky appetizers, a witches brew, and severed toes -- that you'll want to eat.   Appetizers: Severed Toes in Bandages From WomansDay.com A whole new twist on pigs in a blanket.  ...

  • Romantic Autumn Dinner for Two Menu
    Appetizer: Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans From Epicurious.com The perfect combination of tender lettuce, crunchy sweet pecans, and tart persimmons.   Entree: Pumpkin Cannelloni with Sage Cream Sauce From The Full Plate Blog...

  • Kids Fall Harvest Birthday Party Menu
    After bobbing for apples, jumping in leaf piles, and bowling with gourds outside, serve your birthday child and friends this healthy meal full of fall flavors. Then, let them decorate their own pumpkin cupcakes.   Drinks: Rosy Cranberry Cider...

  • Simple Baby Shower Menu
    Salad: Spinach Salad with Dried Cranberries, Walnuts, and Pomegranate Vinaigrette From FoodNetwork.com A quick and healthy starter full of fruit flavors.     Sandwiches: Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches From MarthaStewart.com The classic tea...

  • Elaborate Baby Shower Menu
    Appetizer: Rainbow Chard Tartlettes with Rosemary Almond-Meal Crust From Roost The rosemary and almond meal crust adds a savory-sweet element to these tarts   Soup: Broccoli Soup with Lemon-Chive Cream From Orangette Gently cooking the broccoli until...

  • The Perfect Make-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar
    Bacon Bloody Marys? If you missed them at Chicago’s BaconFest, don’t worry, this is one cocktail you can definitely try at home. Bartenders around the country have been taking the brunch regular up few notches, infusing Bloody Marys with...

  • A Chili Party Menu
    Amanda made most of these dishes herself, and had her guests bring their choice of beverage, but you can also assign various dishes to friends or family when hosting a chili party of your own.   Appetizers: Tipsy Maple Corn From thirschfeld/...

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