Ideas & Tips — Ideas & Tips

Blood Marys are an acquired taste that manages to retain a strong fan base because there are so many ways to make them. The abundance of ingredients leaves room for adjustments that are just slight enough for the drink to retain its name while presenting a different drinking experience.  Invented in 1920s Paris by French bartender Fernand "Pete" Petiot, the beverage grew into an international phenomenon when he moved to New York City to work at the St. Regis Hotel. There, the drink took off and spread around the world through the many St. Regis chains.  Here are a few of the Bloody Mary...

Many of us have gone to restaurants and thought — "I could make a meal out of the appetizers!" Doing just that can make for a fun and unique dinner party or family supper. To make sure everyone gets plenty to eat and is fully satisfied, include a wide variety of options:  Fresh: Serving hors d'oeuvres for dinner doesn't mean you should forget about eating plenty of vegetables! Chop up some fresh bell peppers and celery sticks to serve with hummus. We also love a nice, summery Caprese salad, made from fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Just drizzle with olive oil...

We all know that James Bond takes his martini shaken, not stirred, but which other drinks achieve their maximum tastiness when shaken? Certain drinks benefit from the oxidation process that comes with shaking, while others are too sensitive and can actually be ruined by shaking. To help you know when to impress your friends with the classic tumbler shake of a drink that makes you look oh-so-professional serving it up, we've compiled this list of shake-loving cocktails from around the web: Margarita: This famous tequila drink gains extra sweetness and pungency from a good shake, and on top of that, a...

Sushi exists as one of those foods that straddles a fence, capable of being the nutrient-packed healthy dining experiencing you may need, or the decadent dining event that you crave. Here are a few facts about sushi to remember when trying to decide what kind of culinary experience you're looking to have:  Remember the calories: Many traditional sushi rolls come with a lower calorie account, including those that are made with raw fish, vegetables, rice and nori, which is a kind of seaweed. Some common examples are the salmon cucumber roll with a full serving averaging about 231 calories with...

Are you feeling the urge to sleep under the stars but don't have time to spend a whole weekend camping? Why not pitch a tent right in your own backyard? At-home camping is fun for the whole family and you won't even have to skip a shower. Here are some tips for throwing a successful backyard camp-out: Explore: Martha Stewart suggests encouraging kids to explore the wilderness at home! Equip them with binoculars, a compass and a field journal so that they can make notes about plants, birds, squirrels and any other animals that they might see.  Make s'mores: Of course,...