Dec 30 2023
The arrival of a new year is one of the few celebrations shared across much of the world, but the way people welcome it can look remarkably different from one place to another. Some families eat foods believed to symbolize prosperity. Others ring bells, break pomegranates, leap from chairs, carry suitcases through the streets, or …
Dec 28 2023
New Year’s Eve is one of the best nights of the year to have a little extra fun with your manicure. Glitter that might feel dramatic on an ordinary Tuesday suddenly looks perfectly at home beside sequins, champagne glasses, metallic decorations, and a midnight countdown. The possibilities go far beyond covering every nail in gold …
Dec 23 2023
Christmas baking doesn’t have to mean spending an entire day measuring, mixing, decorating, and washing mountains of dishes. Some of the best holiday treats are surprisingly simple, especially when you choose recipes that deliver plenty of festive flavor without complicated techniques. These five easy Christmas treats cover a little bit of everything. There are warmly …
Dec 20 2023
Italian Christmas baking is wonderfully varied. Depending on the region, family, and generation, a holiday cookie tray might include delicate patterned pizzelle, crunchy biscotti made for dipping, tender ricotta cookies covered with glaze, almond-rich amaretti, or elaborate Sicilian fig cookies filled with fruit and nuts. There isn’t one single cookie that defines an Italian Christmas. …
Dec 17 2023
There is something especially charming about a Christmas tree filled with ornaments made by hand. They do not need to be complicated or perfectly polished. A few craft sticks, buttons, pinecones, paper, cinnamon sticks, or dried orange slices can become decorations that feel far more personal than anything pulled straight from a box. Homemade ornaments …
Dec 10 2023
Christmas may be celebrated across much of the world, but it certainly does not look the same everywhere. A December evening in Mexico might include candles, songs, and a piñata, while families in Finland may head to the sauna before Christmas dinner. In Sweden, candlelit Lucia processions brighten the darkness of December, and in Iceland, …
Dec 09 2023
The smell of gingerbread baking has a way of making the kitchen feel instantly like Christmas. Molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves create that unmistakable warm holiday aroma, while a soft center makes these cookies just as enjoyable to eat as they are to decorate. These soft gingerbread cookies are designed for classic Christmas cut-outs. The …
Nov 26 2023
Leavenworth, Washington, already feels like the kind of mountain town where you might expect to encounter a reindeer or two. Just outside the Bavarian-style downtown, Leavenworth Reindeer Farm turns that possibility into a real experience, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about reindeer, feed members of the herd, hold shed antlers, and take plenty of …
Nov 24 2023
Thanksgiving dinner may end when the pie plates are cleared, but the turkey usually has several meals left in it. A container of cooked turkey can become everything from a creamy pot pie to a crispy breakfast hash, making those leftovers far more interesting than simply reheating the same holiday plate for the third time. …
Nov 21 2023
Dry brining is one of the simplest ways to prepare a flavorful Thanksgiving turkey without finding room in the refrigerator for a giant bucket of salt water. Instead of soaking the bird, you season it directly with kosher salt and herbs, then refrigerate it uncovered for 24 to 48 hours. During that time, the salt …
