It's the season of giving, and I've been thinking a lot about presents, particularly for my sister, Jennifer. This past summer she got married. What could she possibly need after four bridal showers and wedding? I've finally decided to give her a collection of family recipes.I've learned from experience that a project like this can be overwhelming. It's best to start simple. A full-on cookbook is more than I could handle. If I had to assemble several dozen recipes, this project would never g... Read Full Story

It's Friday again! Here are a few Thanksgiving preparation tips that we think will make the best day of the year even better: Mark Bittman dishes out 101 head starts. (The New York Times) How to match up beer with each course. (Foodista) Reduce your stress by making the gravy ahead of time. (Noble Pig) Add more flavor to your turkey by brining. (Serious Eats) What do celebrity chefs make for Thanksgiving? (Foodista) Make a simple and amazing cranberry sauce. (Savory Sweet Life) Photo court... Read Full Story

Those with a curiosity for all-things culinary should set a place at the table for 100 Words for Foodies, the latest installment in the popular paperback series, 100 Words..., from the editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. True food fans might take pause at the title. Over the past couple of years the phrase "foodie" has made many, including food lovers, cringe. Personally, I prefer food geek, but I'm holding out for gastronaut to catch on. While not as cheeky as David Kamp's The Foo... Read Full Story

It's Jeff, checking in again, to follow up on my last book tour post. Next up after Seattle and San Bernardino was Los Angeles, and the marvelous Book Soup. The funny thing was, the chairs were at right angles from one another, and I read at the corner, with the erotic book section behind me. I'm not sure what it says about my event that a coffee table book featuring someone's butt was directly to the left of my head. Regardless, and despite whiplash from having to look at two sets of attende... Read Full Story

After living in Barcelona for 12 years, Jeff Koehler is technically considered a resident. Luckily for us, the American food writer and photographer has retained the curious eye of the outsider, roaming his adopted home for recipes and stories. We talked on the phone about his new book, Rice Pasta Couscous, a cross-cultural journey around the Mediterranean to see the similarities and differences of how people view these staples of family meals. Oh, and along the way, he shared the secrets fo... Read Full Story

When  I worked at Gourmet magazine more than 15 years ago, I sat in the library and marveled at the librarians when Thanksgiving rolled around. A couple weeks before the big day, the phones would start ringing off the hook. Frantic cooks were gearing up and needed to locate a long lost favorite recipe that had been misplaced or lost.  The librarians were often told that the stakes were high because family dynamics depended on exactly THAT recipe. Back then there were no recipe databases. Co... Read Full Story

I’m starting to gear up for the holidays at my house.  At this time of year, I stock up on cooking and baking staples and double check that my favorite cooking gear is in order and at the ready.  I have my usual tried and true holiday recipes that I’ll be making, but I’m seriously exploring how I can use my slow cooker more efficiently over the next few weeks.  It seems like such a sensible solution during the busiest time of year. We had a birthday in the family recently, and I decided to ... Read Full Story

As a child, I knew Thanksgiving was just around the corner when my grandfather brought home eggnog from the grocery store. Whether straight or spiked, eggnog has always found great popularity in the U.S. around the holidays. But I wonder, just how much more popular has it become since Starbucks introduced their eggnog lattes in 1986? My sister-in-law Nita makes the best homemade eggnog, frothy and full of liquor for the holidays. But in my home I drink eggnog straight, instead of dessert.My ... Read Full Story

With their debut cookbook, The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook, South Carolina siblings Matt Lee and Ted Lee swept the 2007 cookbook award season, winning two James Beard Awards, including Cookbook of the Year, and two IACP awards. With The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor, Matt and Ted continue celebrating Southern cuisine in a collection filled with easy, approachable dishes for home cooks. Matt and Ted are also the founders of The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts ... Read Full Story

With their debut cookbook, The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook, South Carolina siblings Matt Lee and Ted Lee swept the 2007 cookbook award season, winning two James Beard Awards, including Cookbook of the Year, and two IACP awards. With The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor, Matt and Ted continue celebrating Southern cuisine in a collection filled with easy, approachable dishes for home cooks. Matt and Ted are also the founders of The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts ... Read Full Story