Food and Wine

When it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, I like to serve a messy, meaty meal such as burgers, sloppy Joes, or my current favorite, these meatball sandwiches. Layers of marinara sauce, melted cheese, and flavorful meatballs come together beautifully in a lightly toasted brioche bun. Although this can be made with store-bought marinara sauce, it tastes even better when you make your own. Assemble the meatballs and sauce up to a day in advance, then warm while you're watching the second quarter. Interested in cooking this finger-licking good dish? Keep reading for the recipe.

Ever since I made cioppino, I've been craving brothy, tomato-based seafood stews. When I saw a recipe for a Catalan one in a recent issue of Food & Wine magazine, I had to give it a try. Unlike most variations, which call for canned tomatoes, this one uses the pulp of fresh tomatoes. It makes for a stew that's light in texture and full in flavor. The ingredient list doesn't include capers, but I threw some in for extra salty brininess. At my local market, halibut was expensive, so the fish monger suggested I use a cheaper firm white fish. The results were superb. This is a definite must make for seafood lovers! Check out the recipe now.

Instead of joining the crowds of party-goers this New Year's Eve, I'm staying in, and I invite you to do the same! Call up some friends and host a festive and special dinner party that lasts until the countdown. Start with a luxurious duo of appetizers: oysters on the half shell with two types of sauces (cucumber mignonette and classic cocktail sauce) and a bubbling pot of cheese fondue with lots of delicious items for dipping (bread cubes, potatoes, broccoli, etc.). For the main course, offer a thick and slow-cooked pork ragu with pasta. It's comforting and hearty. Crusty bread and a big green salad round out the menu. Check out the recommended recipes after the break.

Instead of making a more traditional gingerbread, sugar or butter cookie to leave for Santa Claus, this year, I made alfajores. With an outside of delicate melt-in-your mouth vanilla cookie and an inside of creamy dulce de leche, these Argentine sandwich cookies are wonderfully delicious. The cookies have to be completely cooled before spreading on the dulce de leche, so get started on them right away. In Argentina, they are three to four inches in diameter, but I prefer smaller cookies and made mine with a two-and-a-half inch biscuit cutter; feel free to adjust the size to suit your preferences. These buttery cookies pair perfectly with coffee, sparkling wine, or in the case of Old Saint Nick, a glass of milk! Read more for the recipe.

Seafood pasta is one thing that pescetarians will likely never tire of. Toothsome noodles and chewy shellfish are an unbeatable duo. But if linguine con vongole is one of those dishes you can make with your eyes closed, then try a new spin on that winning combination. This pan-Asian pasta adds a completely new angle to a comfort food standby. Rather than sautéeing or steaming the clams, the recipe calls for stir-frying clams in a smoking hot wok with ginger, garlic, and Chinese black bean sauce — then tossing Japanese udon noodles with the sauce until well-coated. The entire dish can be made as speedily as any stir-fry. For the recipe, keep reading.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and if you've all of a sudden realized that you're in charge of planning, cooking, and hosting a dinner, don't freak out. I've got your back — and an incredibly easy menu that can be put together in just about two hours. For the appetizers, take some help from the store. Pick up your favorite cheese, crackers, dried fruit, and nuts. Use these items to throw together an uncomplicated yet stunning cheese display. When it comes to the main course, the simpler the better. Serve turkey breast roasted with lemon and thyme, mashed sweet potato paprika puree, and a hearty, healthy portion of braised kale.

Thanksgiving isn't about the quantity of food, it's about the quality of conversation you have while enjoying the meal. Want more fast Thanksgiving recipes? Here's 10 awesome and uncomplicated dishes.To savor the menu described here with loved ones, get the recipes after the break

Ah, November! It's full of so many things to celebrate: the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, Thanksgiving, and Dungeness crab season! Today is the first official day of San Francisco's annual crab season, and it's supposed to be a great year for crab. Although there's nothing like fresh cracked crab dipped in a delicious sauce, one of my favorite preparations is crab toast. This addictive appetizer is a great way to serve a little crab to a large crowd. It's the perfect start to any holiday celebration. The mixture is quick and simple to make, and just before serving all you have to do is broil until warm. Offer with a glass of bubbly and your guests will be in heaven. Check out the recipe here.

For your best Thanksgiving ever, be sure to end your meal on a high note with a memorable dessert. As an alternative to pumpkin, sweet potato, and pecan pies, offer up a pear tart as well. Unlike other structured fruit cakes and tarts, this pastry — pleated in a free-form manner that's commonly seen in France — is beautiful in an unfussy way. It's also incredibly easy to make, requiring little more than flour, fruit, butter, sugar, and eggs. For the recipe, read more.

Mashed potatoes may be a traditional Thanksgiving side, but they aren't the most practical for serving a large crowd. They're best freshly made, and although you can keep them warm over a pot of simmering water, who has time or stovetop space for that?

If you're attending a potluck and in charge of bringing a potato side, make this wildly delicious layered potato gratin. The half-and-half is infused with roasted garlic, rosemary, and thyme before being poured over the thinly sliced potato rounds. Instead of regular old cheddar or parmesan, the ingredient list calls for manchego and smoked gouda.

The resulting dish is insane! The top is crispy and cheesy, and the potatoes melt in your mouth. It really is a spectacular side that would be excellent paired with any roast like turkey, ham, or whole beef tenderloin. To check out the recipe, read more.

When thinking of Southern cocktails, the mint julep immediately comes to mind. However, for a Thanksgiving celebration, consider serving something a little more seasonally festive. This drink combines bourbon, the South's favorite spirit, with mint, brandied cherries, cherry liqueur, and black tea. Although the ingredient list is somewhat long, the resulting beverage, with its cranberry color and balanced complexity, is definitely worthy of a special occasion. Get the recipe here.