Champagne and sharp cheddar are two of my absolute favorite things to eat, so you'd think that I would be thrilled by the mere existence of Somerdale's Champagne cheddar. Quite to the contrary, I was skeptical at best, but thankfully let my curiosity get the best of me and sampled a sliver. Firm but creamy, sharp but nutty, with an ineffable fruity note, this cheese is my new dairy crush.
My one quibble — a minor one at that — is that if I didn't know this cheese was infused with Champagne I likely wouldn't pick up on its addition. Rather, its subtle tart and fruity flavor meshes so well with the cheese that it's a seamless inclusion (so in the end, it's essentially a positive).
If I have my way, I'll be including it in cheese plates throughout the holiday season (and for months to come), and if you'd like to do the same, it can be found at Whole Foods, starting tomorrow, Dec. 26.
Photos: Anna Monette Roberts
If you can't really get away to a luxe vacation spot during the holidays, you can at least temporarily transport yourself to a relaxing mental state via a satisfying sparkling cocktail. Apples, orange, and lemon juices, elderflower liqueur, and sweet sparkling wine are all easy-to-find ingredients, so this cocktail is as stress-free as can be. And with all the rough-and-tumble going on about you during the holidays, keep spills and glass breakage to a minimum by serving the cocktails in 
If I could distill just one entertaining tip to y'all, it would be this: don't mess with what's not broken. Meaning: find a few can't-fail, easy-to-prepare recipes, and rely on those as the backbone for your party spread. Sure, you might change little things up from occasion to occasion, but knowing that at the very least a few things will turn out according to plan provides much-needed peace in the midst of frenzied party setup.
These piquant, herb-flecked crackers are my go-to entertaining appetizer. Not only do they make an appearance at nearly any get-together I host, they're also a go-to potluck contribution, and even make for an easy-to-transport hostess gift. Most importantly, they are universally crowd-pleasing, can be prepared ahead of time, and are almost always the first snack to go.
I knew this cake would be a fun project, but I must admit I was caught off guard at the amount of excitement that came over us as we began bringing the cake to life. We found ourselves giggling like first graders as we added parts of the snowman’s body and apparel. 