Crème brulée, the French vanilla custard with a caramelized sugar crust, is one of my all-time favorite treats. If it's on a restaurant's dessert menu, then I can't help but order it. And sometimes, for a special occasion, I'll make it at home.

It's not that difficult to make; the technique is similar to homemade ice cream, but instead of putting the mixture in an ice cream maker, it's baked in a bath of water. It requires time to chill, so plan in advance, especially when entertaining.

I love how such simple ingredients (cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla bean) can be transformed into something that's absolutely sublime and truly sophisticated. Ready to learn how it's done? Keep reading.

If you're hosting a Mardi Gras brunch, there's only one drink to serve, and no, it's not a bloody Mary, it's a Ramos gin fizz. However, if your soirée is after dark, you've got to make a huge round of hurricanes! This classic recipe comes from Dale DeGroff and features two kinds of rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and passion fruit nectar. To batch it, multiply the ingredient amounts by the number of people who will attend your party. For those who don't have time to make a libation from scratch, I recommend ordering hurricane mixer from Pat O'Brien's; it's the bar in New Orleans that made the hurricane famous.

To see my favorite recipe, keep reading.

Recently, I met with bartender and English Gins brand ambassador Erick Castro. Over a couple of gin drinks, Castro and I talked about making cocktails at home. I asked him what's the best way for a cocktail enthusiast to stock their home bar. He not only shared the spirits he recommends, but he also provided some helpful tips. If you're into making and enjoying libations, from classic cocktails to tiki drinks to modern mixology, read on for his suggestions.

If someone were to ask me, "What's your guilty pleasure food?" there's only one thing I can honestly answer: Velveeta. It's so bad . . . yet it's so good! Technically Velveeta isn't a cheese, but a "processed pasteurized cheese product" that has a creamy texture, mild cheddar flavor, and characteristic artificial-orange color.

Velveeta's most endearing quality, however, is its wonderful ability to melt; once heated, it becomes as smooth as velvet. Since 1928, when Kraft first introduced it to America kitchens, Velveeta has been used to make macaroni and cheese and my personal favorite, nacho cheese dip.

While I enjoy the traditional queso dip (a mixture of Velveeta and Ro-tel, a line of canned tomatoes and green chiles popular in Texas), I prefer this jazzed-up rendition. The refried beans provide a nice meatiness and the cumin gives it an element of smoke.

See how to make this gooey, insanely delicious dip.

The next time you don't know what to do with leftover bread, instead of throwing the loaf in the freezer, remember that there are plenty of recipes that make the most of it. Bookmark the list for reference, and you'll never be out of ideas.

• Put croutons in a Caesar or panzanella salad or on top of soup, or just snack on them out of hand.
• Cut the bread into 1/2-inch slices and toast. Place in the food processor and blend until fine crumbs form; breadcrumbs will keep in a seal-tight bag for three days.
• Make French toast for breakfast or dessert.
• If desserts aren't your thing, make a savory bread pudding. Sometimes known as strata, savory bread puddings usually combine vegetables, cheese, milk, and eggs with cubed bread. The whole thing is poured into a casserole dish and baked until it's puffy and delicious. It's great for brunch but could be enjoyed at dinnertime, too.
• Slice the loaf in half lengthwise and pull out some of the bread filling. Then cover with tomato sauce or pesto and your favorite pizza fixings. Bake until it's crispy and the cheese is melted. Voilà: homemade French bread pizza.
• If the bread is a couple days old, slice on the bias into very thin pieces. Toast and top with creamy cheese, chopped tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, mashed avocado — the possibilities for crostini toppings are endless!
• Cut into cubes and toss with lots of Gruyère cheese and fresh herbs. Bake and you'll end up with a rustic gratin that's perfect for serving alongside grilled fish or pork chops.
• If you think stuffing is only good around Thanksgiving, think again! You can stuff and grill chicken breasts, red peppers, or heirloom tomatoes.

What do you do with day-old bread? Add to our list below in the comments!

When it comes to brunch drinks, there's nothing like a mimosa, but if you have them on a regular basis (like I do!), for a special occasion, it's nice to change things up. My favorite new libation is this amazing cocktail that combines limoncello with mint, lemon juice, and sparkling wine. There's a little bit of work involved because you puree the mint, lemon peel, and limoncello in a food processor or blender — however, this can be made the day before the party. Although the recipe serves two, it's pretty easy to increase the proportions of the ingredients. I was worried the sugar rim was going to make the beverage too sweet, but it was just right: it's tart, refreshing, springy, and just plain wonderful. To get the recipe, read more.

Recently, while savoring glass of excellent Champagne, I had a horrible realization that I know nothing about the way Champagne is produced. Sure, I could read the label, pair it with food, and select a decent bottle, but when it came to the hard-core technique that is the methode Champenoise (or methode traditionelle), I knew very little. Naturally, I decided to learn all about it and share the process with you.

1. It begins like any other winemaking procedure: the grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay) are harvested, pressed, and the juice is placed in vats.
2. Next yeast is added. The yeast reacts with the sugar in the grapes, and this produces alcohol. This takes about six months. At this point, the wine is flat. Thus begins the second fermentation process that turns it into bubbly.

Keep reading for the rest of the Champagne-making method.

One of my favorite Fall ingredients is butternut squash. It's incredibly versatile and lends an autumnal, pumpkin-ish flavor to everything from salad to soup to macaroni and cheese. Unlike the seasonal produce of Summer, many cold-weather vegetables can not be enjoyed raw. However, once you know the simple steps to roasting butternut squash you can put it to use in just about anything.

The roasted chunks can be tossed with arugula and white beans. Or, blitz the squash in a food processor and use the puree to make lasagna. Not only are there unlimited ways to cook with roasted squash, there are also plenty of ways to season it. Fresh sage, thyme, or rosemary add an earthiness to the squash, while honey or maple syrup caramelizes the flesh. Doesn't experimenting with different flavorings and preparations sound like fun? To get started, check out my basic recipe for roasted squash.

When it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, the turkey and cranberry sandwich is a classic, but the duo work just as well layered between two tortillas. These cheesy, addictive quesadillas are a delicious snack or light meal. Use my recipe as a guide and adapt the filling to suit your family's liking.

Stir minced jalapeños and chipotles in adobo with leftover sweet potatoes and slather on the tortillas instead of using cranberry sauce. Substitute monterey jack, brie, or parmesan for the white cheddar cheese. Enjoy with sour cream, sliced avocado, salsa, or alone. Get the quick and easy turkey quesadilla recipe.

Gin lovers: have you tried a bramble yet? This modern classic cocktail, which was created in the mid-1980s by London bartender Dick Bradsell, is sort of like England's equivalent to a cosmopolitan. It's an unfussy gin and lemon juice concoction that's potent, but with a tart and fruity taste.

The girlie pink-purple hue comes from the addition of blackberry liqueur. Although there's many blackberry liqueurs on the market, I used Chambord, which is made from both blackberries and raspberries, since that's what I had on hand. To give this refreshing beverage a try, get the easy recipe now.

When a couple decides to get married, they aren't just signing up to host a wedding, they are also committing themselves to a lot of parties that happen along the way. An engagement party, shower, and bachelorette are all commonly associated with weddings. But with so many parties, it's hard to keep them all straight! That's why I've created this handy guide that explains everything you need to know — from the proper time to host a shower to the first person to toast at the wedding. Read on for all the details.

While most citrus — lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits — are available year round, Winter is when it's at its peak. With their vibrant pink flesh and tart refreshing flavor, now is the time to enjoy the subtropical grapefruit. The grapefruit, which is a hybrid citrus born of the pomelo and sweet orange, was first discovered in Barbados in the 18th century. Today, the US is the largest producer of grapefruit with orchards in Florida, Texas, California, and Arizona. The most popular kind of grapefruit is the Ruby Red, a pink variety with a deep red flesh. For more info on grapefruit, including how to select them at the store and what to make with them, keep reading.

Although chocolate may seem like a basic ingredient, in reality, it's somewhat complex. From milk content to sweetness to cacao percentage, there's a lot that can vary.

The first thing to understand is the ratio of cacao to sugar. A chocolate that's 60 percent cacao contains 40 percent sugar. The more cacao a chocolate contains, the less sugar it has and the darker it is.

To get a breakdown of the different types of chocolate and how much sugar, cacao, and milk they have, keep reading.

Although you can essentially enjoy the briny bivalve all year round, it's widely known that oysters are best eaten in months that have a letter "R." Oysters are delicious on the half shell, but my favorite way to prepare them is casino-style. Bacon and butter make everything taste better! The best thing about this recipe is that it can be prepared in advance. The herb butter will keep for a couple of days in the fridge, and the bacon can be crisped the night before you plan to serve the oysters. Bake them just before eating. Offer the oysters with sparkling wine and you've got the perfect appetizer. Here's the uncomplicated recipe.