Jennifer Waldera

Whether you've whipped up your own easy no-churn ice cream or just picked up a store-bought pie, there's possibly no better topping than a big dollop of light and airy whipped cream. While you could simply pick up a container or spray can from the store, nothing can match the flavor and consistency of homemade whipped cream. And it's so easy to make, so there's nearly no reason not to.

Latkes have been a part of Hanukkah celebrations for centuries but they also make for a solid side all year long. Typically comprised of grated potatoes, eggs, onions, and all-purpose flour, the classic crispy fritters are a tasty dish all on their own. But with such a basic base, they are also easy to upgrade and one simple way to do just that is to add a touch of tanginess with dill pickles.

Whether you're shaking up a drink to sip solo or whipping up batch cocktails for the holidays, you may want to swap out your typical simple sugar for a more flavorful sweetener. Claire Marin, the owner and head distiller at Catskill Provisions Distillery, makers of Pollinator Spirits, suggests switching it up with honey. "Honey is a wonderful way of making drinks more flavorful and special year round," she says. "But for holiday time it serves as a rich sweetener which works perfectly with cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, or nutmeg."

Pasta salad is basically a blank canvas for creativity, but it often shows up on the table with a boring mix of noodles, veggies, and seasonings. Sure, you can kick it up by incorporating a few less common ingredients or using the best noodle shapes for your dressing to cling to — but there's one simple spice that can make your next bowl of chilled pasta goodness the talk of the party: curry powder.

Light and airy meringue is like a little cloud of perfection that melts in your mouth — that is, unless it becomes soft and soggy. At its most basic, this little puff of goodness is made purely of sugar and cold egg whites beaten with a mixer and baked on a low temperature for an extended time. It may also be dressed up with flavorings and color. Yet even the most skilled baker can wind up with meringue that doesn't hold its shape.

From adding citrus zest or switching up flours to sprinkling in malted milk powder, there's no shortage of ways to give depth to baked goods, elevating them from mundane to mouthwatering. According to Sofia Schlieben, Corporate Pastry Chef at JF Restaurants, one of the easiest ways to add concentrated flavor to your favorite cakes, muffins, or cookies is to use infused butter.

New food and drink finds at Costco are typically cause for enthusiasm among the warehouse store's members. Its Almond Croissant Pastries were a hit when they hit the shelves and members were quick to share when a new Kirkland Signature Cognac became available. However, when one Instagrammer posted about the retailer's chicken bacon ranch wrap, the majority of the responses revealed that many shoppers were anything but exuberant about the prepared sandwich.

If you're looking to make the most of your bottle of Malbec or Merlot, aerating it is the way to go. Exposing the wine to air can help bring out the wine's flavor and aroma while helping to eliminate or mitigate any harsh notes that may otherwise overpower it.

While the modest meatloaf seems like a simple dish, there's no shortage of mistakes that any cook could make, resulting in it turning out dry. One of the top reasons your meatloaf may fall short in texture is not using enough eggs. If you're a baker, you may typically rely on eggs to give your cakes and muffins structure, and they perform the same function for meatloaf. Plus, eggs add the necessary moisture to create the velvety succulence that makes meatloaf America's go-to dinner. So, if your meatloaf consistently crumbles, all you may need to do is crack another egg into your meat mixture.

While it may sometimes be easy to determine that a liquor brand is owned by a celebrity purely based on the name (think: Indoggo Gin from Snoop Dogg), the star power behind a spirit is often less apparent at first glance. Such is the case with Viva Mexico Cabrones (VMC) tequila-based canned cocktails. Introduced to the United States in 2023 by Spirit of Gallo, following a year of successful sales in Mexico, these ready-to-drink beverages are the creation of none other than boxing superstar Saúl Álvarez.