Your difficulty in getting your favorite jeans up over your hips has probably already told you this, but did you know that Americans gain about one or two pounds during the holiday season every year? While this may not sound like much, research shows it adds up over the years. Luckily, there are ways to […]
You’ve probably heard the “Christmas Song” hundreds of times in your life, and you’re well familiar with that opening line, but have you ever really tried roasting chestnuts over an open fire? If you’ve never had a warm roasted chestnut, you’re missing out. Chestnuts grow from mid-fall to early-spring, and they peak during the holidays—which […]
A study by researchers at the University of Vermont found that wild bees are the secret ingredient in producing better berries, as they are better pollinators than honey bees. The study is the first to successfully reveal that wild bees improve not only blueberry quantities, but also size and other quality factors. It finds that […]
Dirty irrigation water is a prime suspect in the outbreak of the recent bout of illness caused by eating romaine lettuce. Hopefully you’ve been warned by now that romaine lettuce harvested from northern and central California have recently been the focus of food safety concerns, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advising […]
During the holiday season with the winter frost in the air and hearty roast beasts served on the table, a classic Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect fool-proof choice to give or serve this time of year. First, when it comes to holiday wine gifts, unless you know the recipient’s particular tastes well, it’s best […]
Baijiu is rare in the states, though it is available at some cocktail joints around town — usually as a kind of one-off novelty that bartenders stock to impress one another. Though it’s scarce here, baijiu’s billion-strong fan base in China means it’s the best-selling liquor in the world. According to baijiuamerica.com (yes, there is […]
Thanksgiving is over, so put away thoughts of pumpkin pie and instead go for the English classic Mincemeat this holiday season. Just what the heck is Mincemeat, anyway? Well, it can be traced back to the British Isles in the 13th Century, as sailors brought Middle Eastern recipes back with them from their travels. […]
The Hot Toddy is the quintessential cold-weather cocktail: warming, filling, and restorative. The Toddy’s popularity rose in Western Europe during the 18th century at pubs in northern England and Scotland, where barmen would pour hot water into their Scotch and sip the drink to stay warm. Today, there are many different variations of the recipe, but most […]
Tis the season for silver bells, twinkly lights… and mulled wine. You know Christmas is on its way when you have your mitts wrapped around a steamy mug of the spiced wine mixture. But while the comforting warmth and slightly stained lips are two happy by-products of supping this glowing ruby tipple, there are pitfalls. Insufficient […]
Vegetable trimmings being turned into pickles and ferments, coffee grinds used as soil fertilizer, waste milk made into ricotta cheese, the leftover whey added to vinegar to make a pickling liquor … Sounds like something your super eco-minded friend next door would be up to. But as the Irish Times recently reported, these are just […]