Allrecipes December/January 2019-20

BUY THESE ALLRECIPES TOOLS Click here to get more details or to buy now. Making a list. Checking it twice. I’m big on making lists. And I still get the greatest satisfaction from doing it the old way—with pen and paper. Sometimes I add things to my list just so I can cross them off and get credit for getting something done I hadn’t planned on doing. And this time of year, I’m making crazy amounts of lists for holiday event plans (cooking and cleaning) and gift giving. Our December issue is filled with great ideas to add to your lists, whether you’re planning for a holiday meal, a party, or looking for a special gift for someone who loves food and cooking. (BTW, our gift guide starts on page 13.) One foodie gift…

CLICK TO SEE VIDEO Click here to get all kinds of how-to help in our new series, You Can Cook That. NEW HOW-TO VIDEO SERIES You Can Cook That We’ve just launched a new video series starring Allrecipes test kitchen pro Julia Levy. In You Can Cook That, she shares cooking techniques, kitchen secrets, food facts, and tips from the Allrecipes community. Check out the series—particularly the one on making the perfect Christmas ham—at armagazine.com/cook-that, or hover your phone’s camera here to watch it right now on your phone. NEW IN THE KITCHEN Alexa + Allrecipes = hands-free cooking Just in time for the holiday season, we’re partnering with Amazon and its Alexa smart speaker to make hands-free cooking even easier. Just say “Alexa, open Allrecipes” for a simple way to access and sort recipes, shop for…

GIFTS FOR cooks GIFTS FOR bakers GIFTS FOR grillers GIFTS FOR coffee lovers GIFTS FOR entertainers GIFTS FOR THE traveler KITCHEN ENVY hands-free help Sometimes the best gift is an extra pair of hands. If you can’t be there to help your favorite cook this holiday, consider hooking her (or them) up with some helpful technology. Easy places to start: VOICE-ACTIVATED LIGHTS from Philips Hue. You can turn on, dim or brighten, and even change their color using any of the big three assistants: “Hey, Siri, Google, or Alexa: Turn up the lights. Mama’s baking!” TOUCHLESS FAUCETS like those from Delta, Kohler, and Moen, AND MOTION-SENSING SOAP DISPENSERS from Umbra and Simplehuman. Being able to operate them with a wave, command, or wrist tap is extra nice when you’ve got flour-covered fingers. PHOTOS: MARTY BALDWIN; MARKET EDITOR: CHELSEA EVERS…

WHAT MAKES A QUALITY SPICE? Volatile oils (or essential oils) give spices their flavor. And even though spices don’t really “go bad,” they lose flavor as those oils evaporate over time. Oil content is different for each spice; percentages may even differ for the same spice from different regions. How quickly a spice fades depends on how it is processed and how much it is exposed to heat, light, or air. What Should I Look for When Buying Spices? Because freshness matters, it’s smart to choose airtight packages and to shop at a high-volume grocer or spice store, where spices don’t linger on the shelf. Some brands include a “best by” date right on the label. Some list country of origin, too, so you can tell if it’s a spicy-sweet Vietnamese cinnamon or…

NO. 1 CHEESE BOARD Make your own fancy crackers, then raid your cheese drawer, fruit bin, and pantry to turn them into a spread. Add champagne or a bubbly cocktail, and let the grazing begin! NO. 2 PASTA BAR Make this easy, hearty Bolognese in the slow cooker and fire up the pasta and garlic bread when guests arrive. Set it out on the island with prepared pesto, basil, Parm, and a little vino. Salute! NO. 3 COFFEE & COOKIES Make one terrific sugar cookie (or up to six different cookies from the same basic dough). Set them out with cream, sugar, and a fresh pot of coffee, and let the merriment begin.…

PANCETTA-WRAPPED TURKEY BREAST STUFFED WITH SPINACH AND FETA HANDS-ON 15 MIN TOTAL 2 HR SERVES 10 SUBMITTED BY NICOLE 8 REVIEWS 2 boneless, skinless turkey breast halves (about 3½ lb. total) [You may need to special-order this from your butcher.]1 tsp. dried oregano¾ tsp. black pepper½ tsp. salt½ tsp. cumin2 cups fresh spinach1 cup crumbled feta cheese6 oz. pancetta, thinly sliced 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut each turkey breast half almost in half horizontally, leaving 1 inch uncut. Open like a book and lay flat between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, pound each breast half to ½-inch thickness (about a 10x12-inch rectangle). Remove top piece of plastic wrap. 2. Sprinkle oregano, pepper, salt, and cumin over each breast half. Arrange 1 cup spinach and ½ cup feta on 1 breast half,…