To die for.
Before a party or a big feast like Thanksgiving, there are a couple of minor — yet impactful — things I always make sure to do. One is to empty the dishwasher; another is to refill my ice trays completely with fresh water. There's nothing more annoying than reaching for ice to go with water, punch, or cocktails, only to find that there's one cube left. Add a note to your Thanksgiving Read more
Lately, every kitchen catalog I receive insists on reminding me that Summer is just around the corner. One of the trends that's catching my eye is the use of ice. It seems that nothing cools down Summer like a few ice cubes. In fact there are so many icy items, I was able to compile a list for your browsing enjoyment. There were trays of appetizers on ice, salads on ice, and even martini glasses Read more
Some of you might use filtered water, flavored water or even coffee, but do you ever think about the shape of your ice cubes? Why stick with boring squares when you can get cats, dogs, bunnies, stars, apples, jewels, and more. These cat and dog ice cube trays are $6.99 a piece or $12.99 for both. They'd make cute cubes for your summer punch, or alternatively, use the molds to make your own Read more
It's well-known lore that oysters can really titillate the palate (among other things), so I consulted Parke Ulrich, executive chef at Waterbar Restaurant in San Francisco, for tips on crafting the perfect oyster plate at home. Constructing a carefully curated selection of oysters is a bit of an art, much like creating a cheese plate. According to Chef Ulrich, oysters "have a great sense of Read more
The New Year means it's time to start organizing the areas of your life you've neglected, including out-of-sight (but awfully cluttered) kitchen drawers. Are you guilty of buying more than one measuring spoon set, just to avoid hopelessly digging around your disorganized drawers? Has your junk drawer reached capacity? Speed up your search time and make your kitchen drawers safer and neater with Read more
The long weekend ahead marks the last hurrah of Summer, which calls for BBQs and cool cocktails. Don't let your drinks bore your guests — top off your backyard cocktails with some of these geek-approved ice cubes. Read more
With the holiday party season nearly in effect, you can count on dozens of dinner parties and family gatherings. Naturally, these occasions call for a bottle of wine worth celebrating. Whether you're playing host and looking for the right food pairing or searching for the perfect bottle of red as a "thank you" to the hostess, check out our list of apps and gadgets to keep you swishing, sniffing, Read more
There are countless things to be grateful for in 2011, but let's face it: the best way to be thankful on turkey day is to kick back, bond, and have a drink (or three) with loved ones. To take Thanksgiving entertaining to the next level, match your courses with deserving wines and start off with cocktail hour. Don't forget to refill your ice trays, because we've got 10 tipples that are guaranteed Read more
If yogurt is your go-to breakfast, you get a thumbs-up for choosing a food that's so high in protein and calcium. Aside from adding the usual half cup of fresh fruit, here are five ways you can make that bowl of yogurt even more nutritious. Go Greek: A six-ounce container of nonfat vanilla yogurt contains seven grams of protein. But choosing Greek yogurt will give you more than twice the Read more
Jet-setters, backpackers, hotel aficionados beware — your carefree travel from point A to point B may not be so innocent after all. There are germs lurking on the check-in counter at the airport, on the subway seat during your morning commute, and on the ice bucket in your hotel room. If you've watched the movie Contagion, you'll most likely already be on high germ alert. Here are are five Read more
