Move over turkey, there’s a new Thanksgiving entree in town

November 26, 2024 by
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a square of traditional lasagna bolognese on an off-white plate. A fork rests to the right of the lasagna.
For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be complete without a turkey. It's by far the most popular main dish on holiday tables, but for a growing number of people turkey has been supplanted by another dish: lasagna. As Khushbu Shah writes in The New York Times, this may seem surprising on the surface, but there are logical reasons for… read more

Build your own charcuterie chalet

November 20, 2024 by
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Rows of cheese squares and circles of cured meats are arranged in an elongated triangle to resemble a Christmas tree. Sprigs of rosemary are tucked between each row, and a star-shaped piece of cheese tops the "tree"
Back in the Dark Age of late 2020, I posted about a new trend that was poised to sweep the world: charcuterie chalets, a savory twist on gingerbread houses. Made from meat, cheese, crackers, pretzels, and other savory items held together with cream cheese glue, these offered a break from the traditional gingerbread house plus it required no baking or… read more

Gift Guide for Bakers – 2024 and Giveaway

November 8, 2024 by
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The holiday season is fast approaching. I wanted to share a gift guide for the bakers in your life of some of the best baking books published this year as well as a few products. In addition, we have a nice giveaway featuring the following items: a Marcato Made in Italy Holiday Cookie Gift Set, an Emile Henry cookie jar,… read more

The foods of Día de Muertos

October 30, 2024 by
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After tomorrow's Halloween festivities, the Mexican celebration Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead follows, celebrated November 1-2 each year. Day of the Dead celebrations can be traced to the ancient Aztecs, who felt that instead of mourning the deceased, people should celebrate their lives and welcome their spirits back to the land of the living once a year. Common traditions… read more

It’s time to start aging your eggnog (plus other holiday food prep)

October 17, 2024 by
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Not only have stores' Halloween decorations been consolidated to make way for tinsel, lights, wrapping paper, and Christmas trees, but there are also other signs that the holidays are fast approaching. With only 68 days to go before Christmas, 67 until the beginning of Hanukkah, and 69 until the start of Kwanzaa, the clock is ticking for us to get… read more

Celebrate National Avocado Day

July 31, 2024 by
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Today was National Avocado Day, and a few companies in the US were celebrating by offering things like free avocado toast (Panera) or free guacamole (Chipotle). I didn't get the news in time to snag any of those deals, but I was able to crack open some store-bought guac (please picture Ina Garten saying store bought is fine) to enjoy… read more

The Caesar salad turns 100

July 4, 2024 by
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There are many reasons to celebrate today: Independence Day in the US, EYB reaching 500,000 online recipes, and it's the birthday of the Caesar salad. It's not often that the exact origins of a dish are known, but this one is known down to the exact day. You would be forgiven if you thought the salad originated in Italy, but… read more

Father’s Day recipe ideas

June 16, 2024 by
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Today is Father’s Day in the US, UK, and Canada. For many families the day will include outdoor cooking, meat on the grill, and picnic fare. If you are a procrastinator like me and are searching for last minute ideas, one place to look is Food Network, which has selected 35 pleasing Father's Day dinner ideas. In addition to the standard… read more

Get Prepared for National Doughnut Day

June 4, 2024 by
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Once again a national (US) “food holiday” is on the horizon. Friday, June 7 is National Doughnut Day, but this one isn’t just another arbitrary food holiday cooked up by a commercial enterprise – this special day has roots that go back over a century. According to the Salvation Army, the origins of National Doughnut Day stretch back to 1917,… read more

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

May 4, 2024 by
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Everyone appreciates a reason to celebrate, especially when the festivities involve great food. This is evident in the widespread celebration of Cinco de Mayo far outside the borders of Mexico. It’s likely that many people who celebrate this day may not fully comprehend the history behind it: it is not, as many people believe, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is September… read more

Are you set for St. Patrick’s Day?

March 16, 2024 by
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St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow, and people all around the world will be "Irish for a day" as they celebrate with traditional Irish food and a lot of green-hued items. If you haven't landed on what you will be making for the occasion, the EYB St. Patrick’s Day Pinterest board has a lot to offer. You will find everything from a simple… read more

Leap Day food deals

February 27, 2024 by
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We have an extra day this month, courtesy of the Gregorian calendar that doesn't quite keep up with the Earth's orbit. Whether you enjoy having another day in the year or wish February would be over sooner, you can take advantage of Leap Day by enjoying one of the food deals and discounts offered by companies on February 29. Donut… read more

Celebrate Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Day

February 13, 2024 by
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Today is Shrove Tuesday aka National Pancake Day. The Tuesday before Lent begins is a traditional day for eating pancakes, hearkening back to a time when any remaining rich foods (usually foods with a lot of fat or eggs) were eaten prior to the Lenten fasting. Because pancakes factor so heavily into this tradition, this food ‘holiday’ is a perfect excuse… read more

Welcome the Year of the Dragon

February 10, 2024 by
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Today marks the beginning of a very special time for the Chinese and several other cultures, as it is the beginning of the lunar new year, which is called Tet in Vietnam, Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia, Losar in Tibet, and Seollal in Korea. This holiday, celebrated by 20% of the world’s population, is honored differently in various countries, but food features prominently in all celebrations. Each of the foods… read more

Score a touchdown with great Super Bowl snacks

February 6, 2024 by
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I get the feeling that this year's Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers (happening Sunday, February 11) will be watched by a demographic that has never before cared about a football game. If you're among the newbies who doesn't know a first down from a touchdown, hardly anyone will question your football bonafides if your… read more

Celebrate National Pie Day

January 23, 2024 by
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“There is a mystery inherent in a pie by virtue of its contents being hidden beneath its crust.”Janet Clarkson, Pie: A Global History. Today, for reasons I shall never understand, is National Pie Day (I believe the logical choice for the day is March 14). Regardless of why this date was chosen, I am happy to join in the celebration. I love pie so… read more

DIY holiday gifts

December 10, 2023 by
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Every year my holiday wish list gets smaller but my holiday treats list grows. I love making cookies, candies, pickles, condiments, and other handmade items for friends and family. I am not alone in this sentiment – for avid cooks and bakers, creating unique and delicious food is cathartic and rewarding in itself, but sharing these treats with others is… read more

The Hanukkah latke story

December 7, 2023 by
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Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, which continues to December 15. Fried foods feature prominently in Hanukkah celebrations, and potato latkes are popular expressions of the tradition. They are one of the foods that represent the Hanukkah miracle where a one-day supply of oil to light the menorah miraculously lasted eight days. Potato latkes from Taste of Home Magazine… read more

Turkeys rule, cranberries drool?

November 21, 2023 by
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We are two days away from the biggest food holiday in the US. People will gather around tables across the nation to eat a huge Thanksgiving feast, and the majority of those tables will contain turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing/dressing. According to an Associated Press poll, more people say that turkey is their favorite dish (32%) than any of the… read more

Recipes to celebrate Diwali

November 8, 2023 by
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Diwali, a five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains across the world, celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshipped on this holiday, which this year falls on November 12. Diwali celebrations frequently include fireworks, candles, and other forms of light displays. As with many holidays around… read more

Holiday Baking 2023

October 30, 2023 by
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October is my favorite month of the year as it holds the promise of the holidays. (I started drafting this mid-October!) For me, November is too close to the actual holidays and December is go-time. October means that I have time to plan and look forward to the seasonal festivities of baking, buying gifts, and decorating. Some years decorating means… read more

Celebrating National Pasta Day

October 17, 2023 by
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I was struck with the urge to make homemade pasta today, a desire that came out of the blue. After pulling the pasta machine out of the cabinet, I proceeded to make simple ricotta-filled ravioli (judging by the results, I need more practice). Imagine my surprise to later learn that today is National Pasta Day, with restaurants around the country… read more

How Canadian Thanksgiving differs from the US holiday

October 6, 2023 by
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Canadian Thanksgiving happens next Monday, and families will gather for a traditional meal that looks similar to those served during the US version of the holiday. Even though the meals might resemble one another, there are a few ways in which the Canadian edition of Thanksgiving differs from that of its southern neighbor. The first and most obvious difference is… read more

The foods of Rosh Hashanah

September 15, 2023 by
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Rosh Hashanah, meaning "head of the year" in Hebrew, is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The holiday includes several food-related customs including eating apples dipped in honey, as well as eating other symbolic foods such as pomegranates, dates, string beans, beets, pumpkins, leeks, and fish heads. Each of these symbolizes a wish or blessing for prosperity and health in the… read more

Does this settle the scone debates?

August 8, 2023 by
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Scones have been an integral part of afternoon tea in the UK for hundreds of years. The recent coronation of King Charles reinforced this tradition and drove sales of scones up by 120%. Clotted cream and jam sales also spiked during the weeks leading up to the coronation. This week is Afternoon Tea Week, so scones are again front and… read more
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