It may not be exactly what the doctor ordered, but we'd argue that the best cure for long nights and harsh weather is a hearty helping of wine. So crack open one of these enticing bottles, pour yourself a glass (or two), and feel the warmth spread through your chest and chilled bones. Cheers!
Photos: Nicole Perry
This Christmas, give your beloved friends and family a thoughtful, inexpensive gift that'll keep on giving in the months to come: made-from-scratch vanilla extract. This recipe, which calls for only two ingredients and less than five minutes of prep, isn't just functional — it's also pretty and long-lasting. Watch the video to find out how to prolong the life of your homemade vanilla extract and how to package it as a beautiful gift for the holidays.
We've already taken a trip down memory lane to cover our best beginner recipes from 2012, and now we've pulled together our favorite intermediate recipes. From skillet-fried dutch babies to steaming bowls of mussels, the heat's picking up when it comes to the ingredients and techniques used in our best intermediate recipes. Roll up those sleeves, start clicking, and then get cooking!
Cupid won’t be making an appearance for several more weeks, but love is definitely in the air this holiday season, thanks to our friends at the Gap. The brand’s new “Love Comes in Every Shade” campaign not only highlights the upbeat and stylish holiday gifts shoppers rely on every year, it also celebrates the many kinds of deep, personal relationships that color our lives — from the “true love” demonstrated by actors Michael J. Fox and wife Tracy Pollan, to the “fatherly love” between rapper Nas and his dad, blues musician Olu Dara, and the “self love” of actress Aubrey Plaza.
Visit gap.com now to watch a video of these celebs and others sharing the love while rocking the season’s hottest styles, including cozy sweaters, supersoft tees, and standout bottoms in a range of hues and washes. Plus, find colorful scarves, dazzling leather accessories, and endless gifting inspiration for the wide spectrum of loved ones in your life.
But first, tell us a bit about the key object of your affection — answer our poll below.
We've spent the past month showing you a vast array of gifts for your friends and family, from coffee aficionados to do-it-yourselfers. But now comes our favorite part: the point where our editors divulge what they're hoping to find under the Christmas tree. See what's at the top of our wish list!
Hanukkah's around the corner, and if you're someone preparing to throw a celebration, the right tabletop will go a long way in setting a festive mood. We've gathered some Hanukkah-themed dinnerware essentials that are both sophisticated and fun — perfect for hosting your upcoming holiday dinner party.
Cinnamon rolls are a prized breakfast possession in America, yet few families will attempt to make them from home. It's understandable why. Who wants to wake up before the crack of dawn to let dough rise for several hours? Ahem, well maybe me, but I'm in the vast minority. Luckily, I've included instructions to prep certain items the night before, so the cinnamon rolls will be ready to eat (the morning of) in one hour.
Like many Americans, I don't have childhood memories of anyone in my family attempting to make homemade cinnamon rolls — just memories of the Pillsbury canisters popping open to unleash the leaven dough. However, I learned the magic behind homemade rolls when I started a job at a bakery in high school.
Making the dough is fairly easy using a food processor. The hardest part is waiting the two hours to let the dough double. The moist, pliable dough rolls out to form a thin rectangular shape, which you slather with butter and cinnamon sugar. The cinnamon roll shapes are made by rolling the dough into a tight log, then cutting it into slices. As the dough bakes, your kitchen will be filled with the most excruciating scent that is sure to send even your farthest neighbors flocking. Once the buns come out of the oven, top them with the sticky cream-cheese icing. Watch it melt into every crevice of the steaming hot buns, and then get ready for everyone to take a dive for the spatula.
Nothing compares to homemade cinnamon rolls. It's mighty satisfying to unravel the seemingly infinite layers of the brioche-like bun to uncover the melted cinnamon sugar that has seeped into the buttery dough. While some people will add in nuts or top the buns with an orange glaze, I prefer to keep my cinnamon rolls this way — plain and simple — to evoke nostalgic memories of Winter mornings with my family.
This may sound heretical, but according to conventional wisdom, James Bond's go-to drink order of a martini "shaken, not stirred" is just plain wrong. We'll let this one slide — when it comes to the loose art of mixing drinks, it's ultimately a matter of personal preference — but for those curious, here's when (and why) you should shake, stir, or employ the lesser-known technique of rolling a cocktail.
The Short Answer
Any cocktail that involves citrus juice, egg, sugar-thickened liqueurs, or cream should be shaken; any cocktail made up of only clear spirits should be stirred.
The Long(er) Answer
When to stir: Cocktails made up of only clear spirits (like Manhattans, negronis, and martinis, James Bond's drink of choice) should be stirred to preserve the alcohol's crystal-clear appearance, as vigorous shaking will dilute the liquid with cloudy ice crystals.
When to shake: Shake it up when working with citrus juice and viscous liquids (whole egg or egg white, cream, sugary liqueurs, etc.) that need more elbow grease to evenly distribute throughout the drink. Just make certain to add carbonated beverages to the drink after it's been shaken (and give it a little stir to incorporate) unless you're looking to make a big fizzy mess.
When to roll: Cocktails should be rolled (gently inverted in a cocktail shaker about 10 times) if they include delicate herbs that might bruise from more agitation but would otherwise be shaken, like in a celery southside. Additionally, simple cocktails that are served on the rocks (like a screwdriver) should be rolled, as excessive shaking or stirring will overdilute the cocktail, since the melting ice cubes will contribute to dilution.
As for equipment, we're partial to Boston shakers
When it comes to bloody Marys and appetizer plates, spicy pickled green beans are an absolute must. They are fairly easy to find in the canned section of the store, but friends and family will enjoy receiving your homemade batch as an edible gift this holiday.
This particular green bean recipe has a semimulled flavor, due to the coriander. Consider it the recipe's secret ingredient! The dill is subtle, so these green beans don't taste too much like pickled cucumbers. I upped the hotness by adding whole red chile peppers and crushed red pepper flakes, but not to worry; these green beans won't coat your throat with capsaicin.
When gifting these pickled green beans to others, attach a recipe card for a bloody Mary cocktail; that way, these spicy pickles are paired in the perfect way.
