Woman's Day

Hosting a holiday party? Serve punch! Making a punch saves time and is more affordable than stocking an entire bar. It's also a great way to get the party started: people can mix and mingle while they fill their glasses. A celebratory punch made with sparkling wine is especially festive. Garnish with cranberries or circles of citrus. Don't be afraid to get creative with the recipe; the one suggested here is basic. Substitute a floral liqueur like St. Germain for brandy, and use what ever kind of sparkling wine — Rosé, Cava, Prosecco, etc. — you want. For the easy technique to this simple party punch, keep reading.

It's hard to escape the gluttonous nature of holiday celebrations, so if you have a night off from yuletide revelry, detox with a simple, home-cooked meal that counterbalances December's rich, heavy party foods.

Take advantage of spaghetti squash's seasonal peak by using it in place of high-carb pasta in a "spaghetti" dish with roasted vegetables. Slow-roast bite-size tomatoes and zucchini (or any other vegetable, if you'd like) in a mixture of garlic, high-quality olive oil, and seasonings. You'll find yourself looking forward to a comforting meal that, on top of being delicate, is low-calorie, gluten-free, and vegetarian.

To make it vegan, simply skip the parmesan cheese. Want the recipe? Then read on.

Workweek off to a harried start? The best remedy is a rustic supper that'll remind you to slow down. Tonight, keep it simple with a Greek chicken dish that makes use of leftover chicken and calls for a short list of easy-to-obtain ingredients.

Roast chicken and vegetables with seasonings, aromatics, and oil, and you've got a meal to savor only 45 minutes later. For an added touch, serve with a bowl of avgolemono. See the recipe, after the jump.

If there's one all-purpose dinner that's widely overlooked, it's stuffed peppers. Not only can they be very speedy and simple in preparation, but when stuffed with meat, they also make for a well-balanced meal.

The multicolored selection of bell peppers (red, green, yellow, even purple) makes for a colorful and attractive serving vehicle.

The beauty of this recipe is its adaptability; use leftover ground beef from crockpot lasagna — or, if you avoid red meat, ground turkey or chicken. For a quick weeknight dinner that also works well for entertaining, read more.

I'm not going vegan this month or throwing a vegan dinner like PartySugar is, but lately I have been trying to eat less meat and dairy in an effort to lighten both my cholesterol count and carbon footprint.

For tonight's dinner, I went in search of a no-fuss vegetarian slow cooker recipe that would be low in fat, but high in protein and fiber. This chili fits the bill on all accounts, and can easily become vegan, too, without all the dairy toppings. Interested? Then get the recipe.

With the biggest holidays over and done with, I'm beginning the year with a focus on comfortable, no-frills cooking.

My secret weapon? An inexpensive, ever-resourceful crockpot, which works its magic by cooking vegetables and protein low and slow until they've become tender, and the flavors have married together.

As usual, I've had another overindulgent holiday, so I'm starting off this week with a light, brothy Italian minestrone, studded with chicken and perfumed by pesto. Interested in the healthy recipe? Then read more.

During the days leading up to Christmas, it's best to keep your everyday meals as straightforward as possible. That doesn't mean you have to subsist on boxed macaroni and cheese or TV dinner.

Instead, roast a whole chicken tonight, so you have something to fall back on for the beginning of the week when you're occupied with other tasks.

The recipe is straightforward: season the chicken, tie its legs together, and roast it alongside potatoes until everything is tender and browned. Get your week off to the right start when you read more.

Whether you're throwing or attending a Halloween bash this weekend, chances are you'll need some flavorful frights to go with whatever hard drinks you're having on All Hallow's Eve. Go ghoulish — but not too gruesome! — with a treat that's also a bit of a trick: bony witches' fingers. Make a handful in a flash with the help of pre-made breadstick dough. Going for the realistic? Take the time to make them from scratch, knuckles, almond fingernails, and all. Tickled yet by one or both recipes? Get them after the jump.