I happen to know that geeksugar has a weakness for cheesecake. She just can't refuse a slice, doesn't matter when or where, if a piece of cheesecake somehow lands in her lap she devours it. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm kind of the same way. Seriously, who doesn't LOVE cheesecake with its smooth creaminess and a crumbly graham cracker crust? It's pretty easy to make (as long as you have a spring form pan). To give my vanilla cheesecake recipe a try, read more

Last night I came home from a nice little gift swap and got all excited about curling up and watching the latest installment of Top Chef. I turned on the TV and WHAT?? Another repeat! So, since I can't give you a recap of a new Top Chef episode, I figured I'd take a few minutes to give you my thoughts on the season so far. To read my opinions on this season's personalities and yummy looking recipes, read more

This morning FitSugar let us know about the benefit of drinking hot cocoa. I must admit, my hot cocoa intake is usually limited to special occasions and visits to the snow. However, in honor of this great news, I've decided to whip up a batch of hot cocoa mix to keep on hand. This particular mix can be stored in an air tight container and can be made one cup at a time. Perfect for that mid-afternoon pick-me-up or late night sugar craving! To learn how to make a fantastic hot cocoa mix of your own, read more

I love a good margarita. I inherited this love from my mother who inhales tequila quicker than a vacuum cleaner as long as it's in the form of a good margarita. Occasionally we have been known to do a Patron shot or two together but usually we just stick to margaritas. Blended or on the rocks, depending on our mood. I plan on making her this recipe when I see her over the holidays. Don't wait to make this recipe because blood oranges are in season right now.

Frozen Blood Orange Margarita
From Ina Garten

1/2 cup fresh blood orange juice
2 tbsp lemon juice
3 cups ice
1 cup Triple Sec
1 cup white tequila
4 frozen margarita glasses

Combine the blood orange juice, lemon juice, Triple Sec, and ice in a blender and puree until completely blended. Add the tequila and puree for 2 seconds more.

1. Alternatively, combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake hard to form ice crystals.
2. Pour or strain into a prepared frozen margarita glasses or glasses filled with ice and serve.

Makes 4 drinks.

I recently asked you to help me out with the tablescape for a Hanukkah dinner. I promised a girlfriend I would set her table in a blue and silver color scheme so she could spend her time cooking the meal. The inspiration for the table was this elegant blue champagne glass.The rest of the setting: tablecloth, plates, candles, etc, you found and added to the Yum Market with the tag of Hanukkah Dinner.

Don't know what the Yum Market is? Read geeksugar's explanation of how to save finds to TeamSugar.

For the plates, I'll use these fabulous shiny silver plates that KWM submitted. To see the rest of my Hanukkah dinner table setting, styled by you, read more

It's always super exciting in the last few moments leading up to a party. You place the appetizers in the hot oven, you hit play on your iPod, and you walk from room to room lighting all of your candles...it's amazing how much atmosphere they instantly add to a room.

Lighting is very important as I like my house to glow with the soft fuzzy light of all types of candles: tiny votives, skinny tapers, and fat pillars. I light so many candles that people often joke there is a 50% chance that my house will burn down at any given party. To avoid this fire-y fate, I follow a strict guideline when it comes to candles. For all of my tips on candles, read more

"Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure out of the kitchen, because cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music."

Quick, when you think of holiday feasts, what food comes to mind? Turkey, ham, duck and let me guess, probably not Sochivo. That is, unless you celebrate a traditional Russian Christmas. Sochivo, a porridge made from wheat, barley, rye or (more recently) rice, is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve (which is actually celebrated there on January 6th - they're on the Julian calendar). So if you're looking for something new and adventurous, give this a try.

The recipe sounds simple, yet cryptic. I must admit I haven't tried it myself, but be sure to leave a comment below if you do!

Sochivo
From Olga Timokhina

2 cups wheat
1/2 cup honey
1 cup poppy seeds
1 cup walnuts
salt to taste

Sort wheat, wash and put in boiling water. Bring to a boil, drain and wash under cold water, bring to boil, cover tightly and put in the oven until soft. Then take out and cool down. Wash poppy seeds, scald, wash under cold water and ground until homogeneous and white, add sugar or honey and a bit of salt. Combine with wheat. If sochivo is very dense, add some water. At the end add chopped walnuts.

As they say in Russia, "S Rozhdestvom Khristovym!"

When a recipe tells me to finely chop 2 large onions, four carrots, three potatoes, and several cloves of garlic I rest my sharp knife on the cutting board and take out my handy dandy food processor. Have you ever used your food processor to chop food? It's a great time saver that can reduce prep tremendously. However, there is a technique to using the gadget efficiently. It took me several times before I had it down. To learn how to chop with a food processor, read more