Let me begin by saying just like with molasses cookies, these gingerbread cupcakes are not super sweet – they’re more spicy, as in they have a lot of flavor and spice combinations. If you want something that’s sweeter or better for kids, try these hot chocolate cupcakes – they’re cute and delicious! But if you want something elegant and with a higher flavor profile, these gingerbread cupcakes are for you....
Yesterday I talked about how fun it is to make reindeer food with your kids as a way to think about those magical reindeer that make Santa’s sleigh fly at Christmas time! And all about this yummy reindeer chow that’s reindeer food for people! So today we’re going to continue with the reindeer fun with these adorable chocolate reindeer balls! They’re a fun and festive treat that anyone who likes chocolate will love....
This post was originally sponsored by King’s Hawaiian. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip I can’t pinpoint the first time I ever had spinach artichoke dip. I know it was with my family, and I know it was in high school. Like pizza loaf, it just became one of those things that we ate on a regular basis whether it was ordering it at a restaurant or making it at home....
Recently we spoke to several experts who had some great burger tips to add to the conversation. Charles Michel, University of Oxford chef and food scientist, George Motz, author of The Great American Burger Book, and Bryan Mayer, Fleishers’ director of butchery education, explain what makes a burger great. Here’s what you need to do to build a burger like a professional. Steps for the Perfect Burger Grill 80 percent lean beef....
Get a closer look at what you want in your knife block and a bit about knife sharpeners. We also share our Test Kitchen’s best tips on how to hold a knife, knife storage, and other basic knife skills. Must-Have Kitchen Knives and Helpful Extras These are the kitchen knife basics it’s important to have. Pictured above from top to bottom and then left to right: Tips for Buying Kitchen Knives A high-quality knife may seem costly, but compare buying a $70 knife you’ll use for 20 years with the $10 knife you replace each year....
In order to reduce food waste, FSIS recommends that regardless of the date, consumers should evaluate the quality of the food before deciding to eat it or throw it away. (The one exception: Federal law requires a date on all infant formulas for safety and it should always be followed.) So what exactly do expiration dates mean then, and how long is food really good for? With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple compiled this simple guide to reading expiration dates and when to worry about food safety, so you can shop smarter and waste less....
One of my favorite parties to host during the holiday season is a gift exchange party. White elephant, make your own, bigger or better… you name the type of gift exchange party and I love to host it. Apparently others do as well since these creative gift exchange game ideas is one of my all-time most popular posts. There is an art to hosting a gift exchange. It can either be something that people really enjoy or something else....
It’s that time of year again! Santa will be here before you know it and it’s time to start thinking about the Christmas cookies (I think he’d really enjoy these ginger molasses cookies) and milk to leave out for the big guy. But this year take it one step further and leave some reindeer food as well! You could also do a reindeer hunt, but that’s something else entirely. I started making reindeer food with my kids a couple of years ago at our Christmas morning party....
Unfortunately, many believe that eco-friendly alternatives are inherently more expensive. But that’s a harmful myth, since reducing plastic use is becoming increasingly imperative. In order to tackle plastic pollution, we must demand alternatives from product manufacturers, and equally importantly, we must all begin to change our daily habits. It’s time we begin integrating products into our routines and lifestyles that provide alternatives to single-use plastics. At the very least, we need to begin consciously selecting products that significantly reduce plastic waste in some way....
Lemon cucumbers aren’t exactly a supermarket staple, but these unusual veggies have many traits that make them a must in your garden. Despite their name, lemon cucumbers don’t have any citrus-like flavor; they taste just like the traditional green, oblong cucumbers you’re used to seeing and eating (they’re often considered a little less bitter, though). Instead, the “lemon” part of their name refers to their appearance; each one is about the same size and shape as an egg or a lemon and turns yellow when ripe instead of staying green....
Fun Halloween Activities at Home You don’t have to go out and about to enjoy the holiday. In fact, there are plenty of Halloween activities you can enjoy while staying cozy at home. Paint (or carve) pumpkins It’s never too late to decorate pumpkins—even on Halloween night. If you’re stuck inside (or just want to stay indoors), spend the spookiest night of the year trying some no-carve pumpkin ideas. Kids love it, and it’s way less messy than carving pumpkins....
Once upon a time my husband lived in Argentina for two years and during that time, he became addicted to a little thing known as an empanada. So when we found a little restaurant around the corner from our house that serves authentic Argentine empanadas, we were in trouble. It’s not often that a week goes by that I don’t stop in and pick up a couple of empanadas for breakfast....
Step 1: Make the Piecrust First, decide what type of piecrust you want to make—it depends at least in part on what you want the filling to be. For example, for most pumpkin and pecan pies, you’ll want to learn how to make a single-crust piecrust. But for most fruit pies, like apple and cherry, you’ll want to make a double-crust piecrust. Once you’ve chosen your recipe, follow these steps for success:...
Should I Put Water in the Roasting Pan for Turkey? “You can imagine all the turkey cooking methods we’ve tested over our 39 years at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line,” says Nicole Johnson, the director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line located in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. “Often, consumers will inquire about adding water to the bottom of their roasting pans. We do not recommend adding water to the bottom of the pan....
I’m a big fan of gift exchange games, especially if you go with something more unique than just the typical white elephant gift exchange. There’s just something that feels so Christmas to me about gift exchanges. I like games where people bring silly gifts, where people bring regular gifts, and even games like this saran wrap game where I just provide all of the gifts! The one type of gift exchange I personally don’t like is the one where everyone just brings gift cards and people basically just swap gift cards of the same value....
As a rule of thumb, 401(k) distributions cannot start until you are 59 1/2 years old. “That’s the age when you can start taking the money out of retirement accounts without paying the additional 10 percent penalty,” says Shelly-Ann Eweka, director of financial planning strategy at TIAA. Retirement planning, then, has a lot to do with deciding which age to retire at and how to stretch your money between the various stages at which these funds become available: 401(k) distributions start at 59 1/2, but social security benefits won’t start until age 62....
How to Boil an Egg For such an easy cooking venture, there are way too many options and opinions out there on the best way to boil an egg. Keep it simple and follow this straightforward method whether you’re after a hard-boiled, medium, or soft-boiled egg. The technique I learned in culinary school, and have since stuck to and used in test kitchens, is cooking the eggs in boiling water. That means, bringing a pot of water to a boil on the stovetop, lowering the eggs very carefully into the boiling water, and starting the timer from that very moment....
How long does a turkey take to thaw? That depends on its size and thawing method. If it’s early in the week and there’s no rush, thaw your turkey in the refrigerator. One the other hand, if you need to defrost a fully frozen turkey fast, use the cold water method or a microwave. For a quick answer, use our simple chart chart to determine how long to thaw your turkey, even if you’re in a time crunch....
For example, according to NerdWallet’s 2021 Home Buyer Report, 41 percent of those who bought homes in the past 12 months said that affording home repairs and maintenance is one of their biggest financial stressors for the next two years. Even the known costs of homeownership can be more challenging than expected. In the same survey, 28 percent reported that making their monthly mortgage payment was their top financial stressor for the next two years....
Installing an in-ground pool—the kind of permanent structure you can enjoy for years to come—can take months and cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to HomeAdvisor, the average in-ground pool cost is almost $50,000, and larger pools or pools with special features can have even higher price tags. As with any costly home upgrade, you’ll want to make sure adding a pool will pay you back in more than just summer memories....
