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This is why we eat ham on Easter

Holidays are chock-full of timeless traditions, perhaps in no category more steadfastly than food. What’s Thanksgiving without turkey? Halloween without candy? New Year’s without some bubbly? And of course, what would Easter dinner even be without a briny, salty ham? But aside from simply tradition, how did pigs come to play such an important role in our annual spring feast? It really just has to do with practical considerations and timing. Traditionally, pigs were slaughtered in the fall as temperatures cooled. This would allow the meat to stay fresher for much longer. Before refrigeration, farmers would set aside any unsold meat to be cured, or preserved, as to not waste food or income. That cured meat was finally ready to eat each year right around Easter. Also read, Why do eat chocolate bunnies on Easter? These days, slaughtering schedules don’t play an important of a part as simply our preference. While…

Snowman Donuts

Looking for an easy wintertime treat? These snowman donuts are so easy to make, even the kids can help. They’re a great no-bake dessert for last minute classroom parties or winter get-togethers with friends. Put these cute three-ingredient Snowman Donuts together faster than you can throw a snowball! Note: You can also use candy corn for noses if you still have some leftover from Halloween. Orange Starbursts can also be cut into triangles for another nose option. Snowman Donuts Ingredients 1 box or bag of mini powdered donuts handful of mini chocolate chips orange M&M’s You might also need:  skewers (if you just want to make the snowman heads, you can omit this item) Directions Remove donuts from their packaging. Skewer 3 donuts per stick and set aside. Put 1 orange M&M inside the hole of the first donut on each skewer. Place mini chocolate chips point side down into the…

Sparkling New Year’s Eve Party Popcorn

Are you ready to ring in the New Year? New Year’s Eve is full of fun, friends, and of course, food! Most NYE parties don’t start until after dinner, so that means you’re free to bring—or supply—lots of simple finger foods and snacks. And what could pair more deliciously with a few drinks than some sweet, salty popcorn? But it is New Year’s Eve after all, so rules state that popcorn must be sparkly. We have that covered! Also see: How to tell your edible glitter is actually edible. This festive, sparkly popcorn is more of a procedure than a recipe. Just buy pre-popped Skinny Pop, or another brand of lightly salted popped corn, and throw it together right before your party starts. It’s also easy to make more during the night if you run out. Pro tip: It can also be made up to one month ahead of time…

Target is selling glittery wine fizzers that explode in your glass

With Christmas and New Year’s just days away, it’s really time to start thinking about the details. Like what drinks your serving and, of course, how you can add more glitter to you party. Enter Target’s Glitter Raspberry Wine Fizzers. They’re like little sparkly bath bombs for your wine glass, and they’ll make your using wine drinking this holiday season a much classier affair. As the name implies, the Fizzers add a pop of fruity flavor that will turn your wine into more of a rosé. Plus they’re fun to watch dissolve in the glass, releasing tiny drinkable silver and gold stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5JPngBHl54/?utm_source=ig_embed The festive Wine Fizzers come in a pack of six for $6 so you can enjoy the fun with friends—making all of your evenings a bit brighter—without burning a hole through your Christmas cash. You can’t order them online any longer, but they are still available in many…

3 Easy steps to picking the right bottle of champagne for you

Christmas and New Years are right around the corner meaning one very exciting thing — it’s solidly champagne season. We associate the pop of the cork and those sparkling flutes with fun and celebration. But while you may want to down a glass, or two… or three, over the holidays, sometimes all of those choices at the store can be confusing. If you’ve ever hit the wine store and didn’t know what to buy, or feel like an amateur this time of year in the alcohol department, read on for a beginners guide to shopping for champagne. Remember, whichever you choose, make sure it’s in a dark bottle to help keep light away and preserve the intended flavors of the drink inside, but relax. It’s champagne! And no one should ever take a drink this fun and fizzy too seriously. Also see, Tips to prevent a champagne hangover. Step 1:…

What’s the difference between stuffing and dressing?

For carb-lovers, stuffing is the ultimate thanksgiving side dish. That delicious blend of bread, celery, onions and seasonings when smothered with gravy and served atop roast turkey is truly a feast to be thankful for. (Heck. Forget the turkey! I’d be happy with stuffing alone!) That said, while we all unanimously seem to agree that stuffing reigns supreme, what we disagree on is what to call it. Some people say stuffing. Others call it dressing. So what gives? Avoid these 8 common stuffing mistakes. Well, historically, some people used the terms to note the difference between stuffing (cooked inside the bird) and dressing (cooked outside of the bird, likely in a baking dish). But this wasn’t really ever “official.” Dictionaries no longer even really distinguish the two. The difference in the terminology is actually due to regional dialects. Though both dishes contain the same ingredients, if you’re from a southern…

Pomegranate Gin Fizz with Rosemary sprig

The Pomegranate Gin Fizz is perfect for all types of holiday and winter gatherings. It’s seriously crisp and refreshing and makes the perfect Christmas cocktail. This beautifully bright red fizzy drink bursting with juicy arils and aromatic herbs will impress any guest. Holiday tip: Mix a large pitcher ahead of time and pour over ice as guests arrive. Pomegranate Gin Fizz Makes 1 drink Ingredients crushed ice to fill glass 1 ounce gin 2 ounces pomegranate juice club soda to top spring of fresh rosemary (for garnish) 2 tsp pomegranate arils (seeds) Directions Pour gin and pomegranate juice in short whiskey glass. Fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice (almost to the top). Sprinkle with arils and garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary. Also see, A perfect holiday punch recipe. Follow us on Instagram.

How much turkey should you buy per person? And other turkey questions, answered

There are a lot of decisions the Thanksgiving host has to make. Cranberry sauce; fresh or canned? A side of carrots or corn? Pumpkin or apple pie? (That answer there is easy. Both!). But perhaps the most important question of them all: How many pounds of turkey do I need to buy? How much turkey should i buy per person? As a rule of thumb, you should aim for about 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person. Don’t forget that number takes into considering the weight of the bones, giblets, and a bit of leftovers too. That means, if you’re having 8 adult guests, you’re going to want a 12 pound turkey. Of course, if you have a bunch of big eaters or turkey lovers — or think you might get a few unexpected last minute guests — you’ll want to go up from there. When should you buy your turkey?…

This Turkey Veggie Tray will be the talk of Thanksgiving

Bring this tasty veggie turkey tray to your Thanksgiving Day gathering and everyone will gobble it up! It’s super simple to assemble, and a fun way to snack healthy before devouring what’s likely to be a belt-busting feast. You can get creative and use nearly any veggie you might have on hand, but here’s what I included in mine: Cucumber slices carrots red peppers yellow peppers cauliflower peas Assemble vegetables, in rows, on a large round platter. Then, just pick up a container of ranch dip (or make your own), cut an adorable turkey face, and you’re all set! For more details, watch the how-to video above. Gobble Gobble! Also check out: 17 Thanksgiving recipes you don’t want to miss! Also see, The first TV Dinner was a Thanksgiving feast. Follow us on Instagram.

10 great hostess gifts that aren’t wine

Anyone can run to a nearby liquor store and pick up a bottle of wine, but your hostess will be much more impressed with your thoughtfulness if you opt for something else. Whether it’s something they share that evening with guests, or something they save for themselves, these gifts will be greatly appreciated. Soyil Natural Soy Wax Candles (Starting at $14, everybodyshops.com) Show your smart and savvy hostess you appreciate her hospitality with a dye-free, natural soy wax, small batch candle. Seasonal fragrances can help her warm her home with a welcoming scent, plus, soy won’t mark up walls with that nasty black soot. Wine Glass Mahogany Appetizer plates ($19.99, everybodyshops.com) You can bet your host won’t be able to wait to break these out for guests to use atop their wine glasses as they graze all of the amazing food at the party. Each set includes four plates, and…