All that holiday gifting is only half the merriment of the holidays. The rest of it — in our opinion, at least! — comes from the joy of making and savoring special holiday treats that only come once a year. The minute Thanksgiving passed, we move on to dreaming about all the holiday dessert possibilities, and there are simply too many on our to-make list to name. From gingerbread cookies to Read more

Can't wait for Turkey Day to be here, already? Well, then you've lucked out, because this year, Thanksgiving's come early — online, at least. Food Network's brought together some of the country's top food outlets for a virtual holiday feast. From cocktails and appetizers to main dishes and desserts, this meal's got it all — and each recipe is one that you can re-create yourself at home. Given Read more

Check out this recipe that Yum reader Gabriela Une Vie Saine submitted to the Kitchen Goddess group. They look like the perfect Fall treat! I used this recipe during a bread class at my cooking school, the Natural Gourmet Institute. It's bursting with sweet chocolate flavor and a slight kick of cinnamon spice - the perfect soft, sweet snack, breakfast or dessert to enjoy with a cup of coffee. Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! Don’t look now, but here come the holidays (really, they’re just 10 weeks away!). This year, we’re going to make planning and budgeting for them a snap. That’s why we’re starting early to help you tackle the season step by step — and save time, money and stress. If you follow our Guerrilla Guide each week, we promise Read more

The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) are currently gathered in Austin, TX, for their annual weeklong conference. Last night, Dave Arnold, the director of technology for The French Culinary Institute and Chris Young, the co-author of Modernist Cuisine, hosted the 2011 Cookbook Awards Gala. Among the winners? The New York Times and Food52's Amanda Hesser and French Read more

You're happy for the two lovebirds, but the gifts on their wedding registry are way out of your budget. Drop the old tradition of resorting to the cheapest gift on the registry when you're strapped for cash! instead, take a more modern, savvy approach and pick a personalized gift that'll portray your thoughtfulness and give your wallet a breather. Dana LaRue, from The Broke-Ass Bride blog gives Read more

Last weekend, thousands of people and two hundred competitors gathered in downtown Los Angeles for the 2nd 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational. The event has four categories and both amateurs and professionals, like our friends at the Grilled Cheese Truck, can compete to make the best grilled cheese sandwich ever. The amateur winner of the American-style category is Ryan Bentz. Ryan created Read more

Considering the rapid growth of farmers markets over the last decade, it's no surprise that mall operators want a piece of the gourmet provisions pie, too. Mall operators like Macerich Co. and Westfield Group are beginning to open markets inside their properties, where vendors can sell, among other items, gourmet prepared foods and groceries such as heirloom coffee, small-batch vinegars, artisan Read more

We've all seesawed between depriving ourselves then binging on cravings, usually because we crave things that we know we should avoid. According to Annemarie Colbin, Ph.D., founder of The Natural Gourmet Institute and prominent author and lecturer on natural health and holistic medicine, we should listen to some cravings. They are the body's signal to search for nutrients it needs to operate Read more

Over the weekend at the Food Network's South Beach Wine and Food Festival, I attended a packed demo led by Rachael Ray. The self-proclaimed "burger and taco girl" sipped a kumquat margarita while she made fish tacos and a French bistro-inspired burger in a slinky black dress. Instead of focusing on teaching the crowd how to cook, Ray declared that "we're going to have a nice chat," and invited Read more