From butternut squash mac and cheese to persimmon and pomegranate salad, lately I can't get enough of everything Fall. Desserts, in particular, are comforting in a way that no other dish can be, and FinnLover's pudding, with its Autumn spices, apples, and brown sugar syrup, embodies exactly that. To make this basic dessert and Québécois favorite, read more

Oenophiles, rejoice: This week is packed with wine tastings around the country. Perhaps everyone's gearing up for the holidays, or brainstorming early pairings for Thanksgiving. I'll take the wine, whatever the reason. In fact, we'll be at SF Wine Week — maybe we'll see you there!

• Boca Raton, FL: Taste of the Grape — Nov. 11
• San Francisco, CA: SF Wine Week — Nov. 11-15
• Kona, HI: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival — Nov. 11-16
• Springfield, MO: Wingapalooza — Nov. 12
• San Diego, CA: San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival — Nov. 12-16

To see the rest, read more

Last Thursday, frozen yogurt chain Red Mango announced that it would be partnering with pomegranate juice pioneer, POM Wonderful, to debut its first new flavor, Pomegranate by POM Wonderful.

But someone else had the same idea: Red Mango's biggest rival, cult favorite Pinkberry. New York magazine's food blog first reported that the rival chain's pomegranate flavor is slated to hit stores Nov. 21, one week after Red Mango's, and a Pinkberry rep confirmed with us the release of the new flavor.

This pomegranate battle isn't the first time that Pinkberry and Red Mango have gone head to head, and it certainly won't be the last. While the two chains may not be thrilled with the news, I'll be excited to conduct a taste-off. Will you do the same?

Source, Source, and Source

Wondering what to get your mother this year? Encourage her to head to the farmers market with a hook-and-go cart. She can hang her reusable totes packed with fresh produce and products on the side hooks.

If she's too busy to make it to the market bring the farmers to her with a community shared agriculture box. Each week local, in-season fruit and vegetables will be delivered to her door!

For more gift ideas, browse the selection below. Check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

As the weather cools down and the holiday decorations start popping up, we're excited to introduce HolidaySugar, your one-stop shop for the festive season! It is the one place to see our fabulous daily gift guides for everyone from your mom to your BBQ-loving boyfriend to your BFF. Sort the gift guides by gifts for him, for her, or for kids and baby to make all your holiday shopping a breeze.

That's not all, though — HolidaySugar will also have tons of tips on planning, hosting, and entertaining, with recipes to spice up any celebration. We'll also provide you with the necessary holiday tips on how to stay healthy between all the parties, and ways to relax during stressful moments. And of course, we'll provide you with the season's trends in fashion and beauty to be the belle of the ball at all your bashes. HolidaySugar will be updated constantly, so take a look around and get in the holiday spirit with us!

With rich flavors, luxe ingredients, and complex cooking techniques, this delicious Thanksgiving menu is sure to wow your foodie friends. Start with brioche toasts topped with foie gras, date purée, and pomegranate seeds. Caviar with cream cheese on peppered crackers is another hors d'oeuvres option that comes together easily with elements from a gourmet grocery store. A slow-smoked turkey with cane syrup-coffee glaze is a showstopping centerpiece to the main event. Before being smoked, the bird is braised in a mixture of coffee, apple cider vinegar, and cane syrup, so make sure you have a pot large enough to hold a whole turkey.

A decadent stuffing with bacon, sage, and fresh-shucked oysters is a delightful accompaniment to the smoked bird. Sweet potatoes reach new heights when served in souffle form stuffed inside a phyllo dough. To get these recipes for the more advanced home cook, read more