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Hosting an in-home gathering, while fun, is still full of stress points. A menu needs to be chosen, the dwelling needs to be cleaned and food needs to be prepped and prepared. And, of course, the appropriate adult beverages will need to be selected.     While it may be easy to put out a spread and let guest pick what they want, from cocktails to wine, it’s not always economical to purchase different booze and mixers. It is also elegant to be able to offer guests a beautiful bottle of wine that pairs perfectly with your meal.  High-quality wines...

It’s nice to go out with friends, but it’s also really nice to spend time at home. As the holiday season and the cooler months approach, having friends and family over for a dinner party is not only a great way to show them how special they are, but it also gives you a chance to show off your hosting skills. However, entertaining can be expensive, especially when you’re looking to impress. But not everything has to cost you an entire month’s salary! Here are four easy-to-follow tips for creating a fabulous dinner party without breaking the bank.  Start with...

  To batch or not to batch — that is always the question when you know a gathering is coming. By batching cocktails, it frees you up to play host, mingle and ensure everyone is having fun without having to be constantly on call at the bar. It also allows guests to feel welcomed and elevates a party – they don’t have to mix their own cocktails from a selection of items, no one has to worry about what wine to open and it gives the vibe of a signature drink.      However, there are several pitfalls when it...

You just wanted to make a cake and now you’re standing in front of a row of different types of vanillas, unsure of which one to choose. With different price points and packaging, they all seem pretty exotic, but which one will be the best for what you’re making? And, since vanilla is the second-most expensive ingredient in the world, second only to saffron, how will you make sure you’re buying the one that will offer you the most options.  Check out what makes each vanilla the same, or different, from the next in hopes that you won’t ever have...

Whether you’re a novice home cook or someone who can slice and dice your way around the kitchen, there is one thing that you may still be getting wrong: Salting. Yes, that’s right – there are different types of salt for different reasons!    Kosher salt is primarily used for seasoning while cooking, brining, baking, boiling water for pasta — adding salinity where texture isn’t necessarily important. For example, he says, scrambling eggs. Best practices for using Kosher salt include salting pasta water, mashed potatoes, butternut squash soup and for baking bread.  Finishing salt is a relatively new thing in the...