Ideas & Tips — Celebration

You've only just walked in the door at the annual family holiday gathering, and already two aunts and a grandma have flocked around you to offer cookies, cakes and snacks. So it begins. Eating sensibly during the holiday can feel like an uphill battle, with factors from the cold weather to pushy relatives threatening the hard-earned integrity of your waistline. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average American gains one to two pounds every year during the holidays, which may not seem like a lot on its own but can add up over a lifetime. Keep these tips...

Sometimes the drive home from a party is dominated by conversations about various aspects of the event. What was the best outfit? Who was the funniest? How was the music? But when the topic of food comes up, you'll want to be confident that the people leaving your home event have nothing but nice things to say. The main course is typically the major event of a dinner party, but the forthcoming appetizers are what pave the road for it. Make sure the journey is a smooth one for your guests with these winning recipes: Chicken Satay Skewers: This Martha Stewart go-to...

Wine is virtually a culture of its own. As much a science as it is an art, culture, agriculture, geology, genetics and history all play a role in the creative process of making wine. Furthermore, for as intricate as the development of a good wine has always been, time has only added to its complexity. For centuries wines were known by the region where they were made, but with wine now being a global product, geography is no longer as secure of a way of identifying it as it once was. Here are a few geographical facts about wine: Changes in taste: Occasionally,...

With beer and wine being two of the world's most popular beverages, there isn't a great need to explain why they are both also popular for making at home and sharing amongst friends. Nevertheless, for some, the appeal doesn't come as easily, even when the White House brews it's own beer as well.  For those who are curious, here are a few motivations for brewing your own beer at home: Drink to your health: The healthy properties of a beer often depend on the recipe, but according to an article by Beersmith, a 12 ounce of beer can have fewer calories...

Cheese has been adding culinary joy to societies for thousands of years. One of the most obvious signs of how popular cheese is can be found in the large assortment of options. There are countless cheeses for different occasions, created exclusively in various locations and meant to be served specifically in certain types of ways. With all of the love, science and energy that goes into cheese, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to figure out what to do with it besides eating and riding the wave of euphoria that follows.  But here are a few tips to remember:...