Living – In Good Taste

Tips and Recipes to Host the Best Holiday Cookie Swap

Maris Callahan — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 18:00:41 +0000

Sound easy enough to pull off? We have everything you need to organize the best holiday cookie swap of the season, including a baker’s dozen cookie recipes from some of our favorite blogs. The Prep Guest List When planning your holiday cookie swap, remember that you’ll need to bake enough cookies so that everyone can take a few home. That means you might not want to invite thirty of your closest friends…unless they happen to be serious bakers. Shoot for up to ten friends who enjoy baking and who you think will all get along with one another. Cookie Rules The first rule of a holiday cookie swap is that no one talks about the holiday cookie swap. Or is that from the movie Fight Club? Either way, the holiday cookie swap rules are up to you, but you should definitely set some. Let guests know what the parameters are—such as, whether or not cookies should be made from scratch or if they should be holiday-themed. Don’t be afraid to delegate a little to ensure you don’t have three identical shortbreads. Typically, guests bake a dozen cookies for every attendee. But a half dozen would work if the party is large (say, more […]

The post Tips and Recipes to Host the Best Holiday Cookie Swap appeared first on In Good Taste.

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

Maris Callahan — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 21:06:15 +0000

I know, I know. Another 2018 holiday gift guide? There are truly so many out there and so many of them have wonderful ideas. Last year, I think I shopped for more than half of my list from my friend Nicole’s holiday gift guide and wanted to offer the same kind of thoughtful, personalized recommendations here. Because a number of my friends told me that last year’s holiday gift guide actually did help them shop for their friends and family I wanted to do a 2018 Holiday Gift Guide — this time with more gift ideas and a new category! PS: Some of the links below are affiliate, which means I’ll get a small commission if you purchase through my links (at no cost to you). HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR THE HOME COOK Everyday Dorie: I’ve long since been a Dorie Greenspan fan. I think of her as the Julia Child of our generation and having had the pleasure of meeting her years ago at a blogging conference, am certain she is every bit as gracious, talented and passionate about her craft. Her latest book, Everyday Dorie, is a must on every cookbook shelf. $23. Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Here’s the hard, honest […]

The post 2018 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on In Good Taste.

12 Luxe Stocking Stuffers or Small Gifts

Maris Callahan — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 04:24:36 +0000

When you hang your stockings by the chimney with care this year, get excited because there are so many fun pocket-sized goodies to fill them. Whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers for a girlfriend, mom, sister or friend, there’s no need to limit yourself to candy and new socks. Here are stocking stuffers that any lady will love. Luxe Stocking Stuffers Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Palette: Go from day to night with these luxe shades of eye shadow from Charlotte Tilbury. From day to night and winter to summer, this will become her go-to palette. $75. Leather Sunglass Case: Even your sunnies deserve a pretty bag. This pretty leather case from Cuyana will keep your sunglasses safe and $85. ‘With Bells On’ Flask: For making spirits bright, wherever you go. With this flask by Emily Current and Meritt Elliot for Pottery Barn, you’re primed to BYOB. $25. Tessa Gold Stud Earrings: $50. Perfect for everyday wear or a date night out, these sparkly gold studs are a holiday must-have. Gemstone iPhone Case: Protect your tech with this naturally stylish, slim but durable iPhone case. Fits the iPhone 6, 7 or 8 and iPhone 6, 7 or 8 Plus. $20. Sugarfina […]

The post 12 Luxe Stocking Stuffers or Small Gifts appeared first on In Good Taste.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Maris Callahan — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:39:57 +0000

Holiday gift shopping couldn’t be easier this year. You can literally shop for everyone on your list without lifting a finger – or a heavy shopping bag – and you can do it all with a laptop and a glass of wine from the comfort of your living room. I did some of the leg work so you don’t have to and rounded up dozens of gift ideas for the home cook, the consummate hostess, the homebody and the wine lover. The Home Cook People who love to cook (and incidentally, people who love to eat) are the easiest people to shop for, for holiday gifts. The kitchen is an endless arena of serving dishes, small appliances and other culinary trinkets that will delight the chef on your list. Ceramic Bake Dish: Modern and minimalist, this ceramic Bake baking dish from Rae Dunn is the perfect vessel for gooey chocolate brownies. You’re welcome. $39. Comfort Food Cookbook: Nourish the body and soul with the stick-to-your-ribs recipes in this delectable cookbook from Williams-Sonoma. $30. Grow and Infuse Olive Oil Kit: Step up your chef game with a starter kit to grow your own rosemary and infuse your own olive oil. $40. Eat Bookends: We […]

The post 2017 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on In Good Taste.

3 Wholesome Ways to Start Your Morning

Maris Callahan — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 18:51:35 +0000

Let me first make one thing clear: I am not a morning person. I have never been a morning person. I will probably never be a morning person. If it weren’t for the whole, ‘having a job and needing to be a responsible adult’ thing, I would probably go to bed around 2:00 a.m. and wake up around 10:00 a.m. (assuming a blissful 8 hours of sleep). In college, my earliest class began at 10:00 a.m. and my motto was, “if your major requires you to take 8:00 a.m. classes, then change your major.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t quite fly in the corporate world ten years later. Though, I am quite lucky, as my current job begins at 9:30 a.m., so while I do get to bed before 2:00 a.m., I have a little more luxury than most when it comes to hitting that snooze button at 7:30 a.m. Even so, I do need some motivation to actually get out of bed when the alarm goes off and let me tell you, it’s not a one-step process. For those of you who, like me, struggle with mornings, here are a few tricks in my arsenal that get me rising and shining […]

The post 3 Wholesome Ways to Start Your Morning appeared first on In Good Taste.