11 Kitchen and Home Product Picks Inspired by Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year

The end of the calendar year generally marks the holiday season, crackling fireplaces, and lots of cold-weather cooking, but it also means the yearly announcement of Pantone’s chosen color of the upcoming year. In 2020, Pantone has declared that we’ll be seeing a whole lot of classic blue, explaining on Twitter that this particular blue is a “timeless and enduring blue hue, timeless in its simplicity.”

Related Reading: 9 Slow Cooker Cookbooks You Need Right Now

So in the interest of keeping up with the trends, we’ve gathered a slew of classic blue kitchen and home items you should add to your collection. While these don’t necessarily hit the specific Pantone hue of 19-4052 Classic Blue, the products we chose below — from a cobalt blue vintage tea kettle to Nordic blue linen bread bags — capture the spirit of next year’s big color in the most stylish way possible.

Water Jug, $206 at Mud Australia

Mud Australia

Let this water jug be the statement piece of any party, which was designed to be filled with sparkling water. The handmade porcelain piece is crafted in Sydney, Australia.Buy Now

Hue Navy Blue Bowls, Set of 4 for $18.95 at Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel

Stock your cabinets with these deeply blue porcelain bowls from designed Aaron Probyn. Each piece is hand-glazed, peppered with grooved detailing and a shiny finish. They’re perfect for a bowl of oatmeal or filled with your favorite soup. Buy Now

Plastic Mixing Bowl Set with Lids, $29.99 at Target

Target

These stackable mixing bowls are decked out in blue ombre and come with five bowls in a range of sizes. The attachable lids mean you’re able to save that leftover pancake batter without having to dirty another bowl. Buy Now

Vintage Blue Mason Jar Soap Dispenser, $32-38 at Food52

Food52

Enliven any old sink with this blue mason jar soap dispenser, which not only will give your sink a charming vintage feel, but will also make washing hands a fashionable enterprise. Buy Now

Nordic Blue Linen Bread Bags, Set of 2 for $36 at Food52

Food52

The easiest way to keep crusty bread fresh? These linen bread bags (in a vibrant Nordic blue!). The set comes with two sizes—square and rectangular—so you can fit any sized bread inside.Buy Now

Chantal Cobalt Blue Enamel-on-Steel Vintage Tea Kettle, $44 on Amazon

Amazon

Boil up water for tea and coffee in this sleek, vintage tea kettle. The vivid blue is a nice alternative to the ubiquitous silver tea kettles.Buy Now

Five Two Ultimate Apron, $45 at Food52

Food52

There’s no need to drench your clothes with tomato and chocolate stains anymore when you could simply slip on a blue apron from Food52’s new Five Two line. The sturdy fabric has plenty of coverage from your chest down to your thighs, with built-in pot holders at the bottom corners and a nifty conversion chart tucked into one pocket. Buy Now

Small Raawii Strøm Bowl, $60 at Nordstrom

Nordstrom

This uniquely shaped blue bowl, sold from the MoMa Design Store, boasts a smooth curved bowl perched atop a raised stand. Use it for scooping ice cream or let it brighten up a table as a centerpiece. Buy Now

Le Creuset Signature Deep Round Dutch Oven, $199.96 at Sur La Table

Sur La Table

Color up your kitchen with a Le Creuset Dutch oven, painted in a warm blue called Marseille. The beautiful French oven does it all, from preparing soups, stews, and sauces to deep-frying and baking loaves of bread.  

KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, $279.99 at Best Buy

Best Buy

Beat sugar and butter for all your baking projects in this gorgeous blue willow KitchenAid stand mixer. The mixer comes with three attachments (a whisk, dough hook, and flat beater), plus it’s $100 off at Best Buy.  Buy Now

Staub Oval Cocotte, $303.96 at Sur La Table

Sur La Table

This oval Staub Cocotte—flaunting a deep marine blue color—is particularly designed to generate robust and flavorful juices, making it the perfect choice for stews, soups, casseroles, roasts, and braises.Buy Now

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This Bucatini with Bacon Cream Sauce Is Sure to Impress Weeknight Pasta Fans

Creamy, savory, and full of umami—thanks to lots of Parmigiano-Reggiano, bacon, and garlic—this simple pantry pasta tastes like the Italian love-child of carbonara and cacio e pepe. Shallots and garlic are cooked in bacon fat, then simmered with heavy cream and starchy pasta water for a sauce that’s full of flavor. It’s the best meal to quickly put together on a weeknight since it comes together in under 30 minutes. 

Related Reading: Spaghetti Carbonara Is the Weeknight Pasta You’ll Make On Repeat

Swaps Are Encouraged

The real joy of this recipe is how amenable it is to swaps. Onions can be used in place of shallots. Pancetta or guanciale (should you have them on hand) are great substitutes for bacon. You can make it a little spicy with a dash of pepper flakes or add extra protein by serving a fried egg on top.

Alexis deBoschnek

Any Pasta Shape Is Welcome

Bucatini’s tubular shape with a hole down the middle ensures that every bite of pasta is covered in sauce. But since this is a weeknight pasta, and you’ve got to just use what’s in your pantry, other shapes are perfectly fine to swap in. Spaghetti and fettuccine are obvious choices, but shapes like shells and orechiette that can hold little cups of sauce are great too.

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 4-Piece Pasta/Steamer Set, $56.31 on Amazon

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Reserve Your Pasta Water for a Creamier Sauce

Don’t drain all that pasta water! Chefs know that starchy pasta water is the key to creating silky sauces. While the pasta cooks, it releases starch into the water. The starch acts as an emulsifier when tossed with sauce, making it cling to noodles rather than clump—or even worse, separate. Plus, if you’re salting your water (which you always should), it’ll add a bit more salty flavor to the pasta. Pro tip: You can also freeze leftover pasta water in ice cube trays and pop them into soups or stews down the line to act as a thickener!

Bucatini with Bacon Cream Sauce Recipe

This pasta is a pantry staple dream, tossed with bacon, garlic, shallots, cheese, and cream. Serve as is or pair it with an easy-to-build side salad.

Bucatini with Bacon Cream Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 30 minutesServes: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound bucatini
• 10 ounces bacon, sliced into ½-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Prepare bucatini to al dente according to package instructions, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
2. Meanwhile, add the bacon to a skillet over medium high heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes on both sides, until your desired level of crispiness.
3. Use tongs to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
4. Return the pan to medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the shallots and cook for 2 minutes, until softened.
5. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.
6. Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper and whisk for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
7. Add the al dente bucatini, ½ cup reserved pasta water, bacon, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and parsley, and cook for 1-2 minutes, tossing with tongs, until the bucatini is fully coated in glossy sauce.
8. Serve with parsley.

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How to Ship Christmas Cookies and Other Treats

Merry holiday wishes alone will not protect baked goods in their travels through the mail. They can lose their crunch, go stale, or just get tumbled around enough to crumble those perfect linzer cookies you’re so proud of.

Here are the tips you need to know to ship your baked goods and have them arrive on time and intact for Christmas.

Christmas Shipping Deadlines

Before you bother with all the logistics, you need to know if there’s still time for your cookies or other homemade treats to arrive by Christmas. Here are the 2019 shipping cut-off dates for the three major carriers:

USPS

• USPS Ground: Dec. 14 (Saturday)
• USPS First Class: Dec. 20 (Friday)
• USPS Priority: Dec. 21 (Saturday)
• USPS Priority Express: Dec. 23 (Monday)

FedEx

• FedEx SmartPost: Dec. 9 (Monday)
• FedEx Ground: Dec. 16 (Monday)
• FedEx Home Delivery: Dec. 16 (Monday)
• FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 19 (Thursday)
• FedEx 2Day: Dec. 20 (Friday)
• FedEx Overnight: Dec. 23 (Monday)

UPS

• UPS Ground: Dec. 13 (Friday)
• UPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19 (Thursday)
• UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20 (Friday)
• UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 23 (Monday)

Now, on to the other nuts and bolts of successfully shipping cookies in the mail!

Premium Christmas Cookie Tins, Set of 3, $21.65 on Amazon

You'll need some tins, of course.

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Select Your Cookies Carefully

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Unless you are spending big bucks to ship with an overnight service, plan to mail baked goods that will taste fresh and stay crisp for about a week. “When you bake at home, you don’t think about shelf life,” says Jenna Park, co-owner of Whimsy & Spice bakery in Brooklyn, New York. “But definitely for shipping you have to.”

You don’t want to ship any cookie or baked good that won’t hold up for three to five days sitting around your house in the container you plan to ship in. Not sure? Do a test batch and see what happens. Take these holiday-appropriate cookie recipes for a test drive.

Related Reading: 9 Holiday Baking Disasters to Avoid | How to Decorate Cookies Like a Pro

The Best Type of Cookies to Ship

Drier, crispier varieties will last longer. “Shortbreads are probably the most fail-safe,” says Whimsy & Spice’s Park. Other good bets are sugar cookies, biscotti, or crisp gingerbread. Our pecan sandies and molasses crinkle cookies are also great options to ship. Soft, moist cookies have “less of a shelf life because the moisture will help it deteriorate,” says Rose Levy Beranbaum, journalist and author (of several baking bibles, and of “Rose’s Christmas Cookies“).

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Not as Foolproof But Totally Doable

Opt for faster shipping methods for anything soft and moist, like brownies, bundt and tube cakes, and loaf cakes. The same goes for cookies with nuts, says Beranbaum—because nuts go rancid quickly, they shorten the shelf life of a cookie to about a week. For doughs with cream cheese in them (like rugelach), “five days is my rule of thumb for shelf life,” says Beranbaum.

Mail at Your Own Risk

“One of my favorite cookies I would never ship,” warns Beranbaum. “My lemon butter bars. Or cheesecake bars.” They are too soft, squishy, and perishable. She also says she’s hesitant to ship meringues because they are so delicate (but at least they still taste good broken).

Don’t Be a Crappy Packager

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Cool Cookies Completely Before Boxing

To avoid an epic cookie-shipping failure, start by fully cooling your treats before trying to cram them into bags or tins or anything else but your mouth. You don’t want any extra steamy moisture caught in there to speed spoilage. That said, mail the cookies as soon as possible after baking, advises James Wigdel, spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service in San Francisco. This will get you the most out of the shelf life.

Use the Right Containers

You’ve got a few options: Beranbaum is a fan of Snapware containers because they have gaskets and form an airtight seal. Traditional tins are fine too, but you’ll need to tape around the lid to add a seal and hedge your bets against it popping off somewhere in transit. At the minimum, Wigdel says, you should use one of those inexpensive plastic food storage containers, such as the kind Ziploc makes.

Bayco Glass Storage Containers with Snap-On Lids, 9 for $35.99 on Amazon

Maybe not as festive as a tin, but sturdy and reusable all year long. (Select plain white and it's $10 cheaper.)

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Keep Your Cookie Types Separated

The often-overlooked key to good packing is keeping your cookie types separated. “You want crunchy to stay crunchy and soft to stay soft. If you put them together, the crunchy get soft, and the soft turn hard,” says Beranbaum.

That doesn’t mean you have to ship multiple tins. You can separate the types with resealable bags, or class it up and get cellophane goodie bags, advises Park, and tie them up with a ribbon.

Christmas Cellophane Treat Bags, 150 for $16.95 on Amazon

You get 6 designs and twist ties are included.

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If you’re just shipping one type of cookie, put sheets of waxed paper between the layers as you fill the tin.

Mind the Gap

No matter what is inside your tin or other container, fill in the gap at the top with crumpled waxed paper, says Jennifer Caccavo, a spokesperson for FedEx. You don’t want to give them any room to move around in there. If the cookies are in cellophane bags already, use crumpled tissue paper for a more festive effect.

YinYang / E+ / Getty Images

Box ‘Em Up and Ship ‘Em Out

Once you have your treats secured in a container, use a sturdy corrugated box designed to ship in, says Kristen Petrella, a spokesperson for UPS.

Then be sure to have at least two inches of packing material on all sides. You can use crumpled newspaper, foam peanuts, bubble wrap, shredded paper, crumpled old plastic or paper bags, or do as Beranbaum does and fill up resealable bags with real popcorn and pack those around the treats as a bonus for the giftee. “Shake the box—if you can feel or hear any movement, add more cushioning!” says FedEx’s Caccavo.

Caccavo, Petrella, and Wigdel all advise you to write the recipient’s name and address on a note card stuck inside the box—if the exterior label falls off or becomes unreadable, the carrier can still get it to your giftee.

And skip the brown paper and string overwrap, since it “can potentially catch in package sorting equipment,” warns Petrella.

Seal the box with packing tape—not flimsy Scotch tape you stole from the office—clearly address it, and ship it out. And don’t wait too long!

Related Reading: The Best Mail Order Cookies, Cakes, and Pies You Can Have Delivered

For more tips, tricks, hacks, and recipes, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas and Holiday Entertaining Headquarters.

Related Video: How to Make Your Sugar Cookies Sparkle

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Dungeness Crab Cakes

Crab cakes with Dungeness crab are a treat! They can be a little delicate, so a chill in the fridge before frying helps them from falling apart while frying.

Continue reading "Dungeness Crab Cakes" »

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Homemade Cocktail Bitters Are Your New Best Friend

Why would you make your own bitters? Well, why not? We live in an age of DIY everything, from kombucha to jerky. We also live in an age when finding artisanal, small-batch, craft versions of everything edible and drinkable is pretty easy—cocktail bitters being no exception. But making your own bitters is a rewarding bit of alchemy, not to mention a great homemade gift, and they’re fantastic to use in myriad ways, not just in drinks.

What Are Bitters?

Cocktail bitters are potions that, with just a few drops, add backbone to a drink: The Sazerac wouldn’t be what it is without them.

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Bitters originated centuries ago when apothecaries started combining herbs, bark, and berries with alcohol and promoting the results as medicinal tonics. But in 1906, selling bitters as health remedies was outlawed, so they’re now found only behind the bar.

Botany at the BarThis Book Will Change How You Think About Cocktail BittersThe ones we’re addressing here are deemed nonpotable—not because they are unsafe for human consumption, but because they’re not intended to be consumed alone due to their strong flavors and high alcohol content (usually between 70 and 90 proof). A few dashes of nonpotable bitters are used to round out a drink. They’re most commonly found in classic recipes such as the Champagne Cocktail. (The second type of bitters is potable, typically poured as a digestif, a drink that aids digestion after a big meal. While the digestive-aid factor is up for debate, these distinctively flavored liqueurs are popular and include Fernet-Branca and Jägermeister in their ranks.)

The best-known (nonpotable) commercial bitters are practically household names: Peychaud’s, angostura, Regans’. Most were created during the golden age of the cocktail, at the turn of the 20th century, but in more recent years, modern, small-batch bitter makers have brought lots more to the market—and resources for making your own have proliferated too.

Check out an excerpt and recipe from “Botany at the Bar” for just one example (and lots of great info on tasting bitters).

Scrappy's Bitters Exotic Sampler Pack, $22.75 on Amazon

This set includes chocolate, grapefruit, lavender, and cardamom bitters, but that's only the beginning.

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How Do You Make Bitters?

It’s a basic infusion, but recipes can get complex, with longs lists of herbs, spices, and botanicals. With our recipes below, we riffed on a few famous bitters (and threw in a couple wild cards for good measure)—but because the makers of the commercial varieties have kept their recipes under lock and key for over a century, and because they use such varied, hard-to-find ingredients (uncommon barks and dried berries among them), we can’t claim to have re-created them faithfully. We can promise they’re great in cocktails, and other applications.

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Developing these formulas proved that many factors contribute to top-notch bitters. There are as many methods as there are mixologists, but the most important thing is how the bitters perform in a cocktail. Here are the main takeaways from our experiments in making bitters the best they can be:

Alcohol

Once you’ve settled on which brand of bitters you’re going to try to emulate, the next consideration is which liquor to steep the flavors in. The best choices are spirits with a high alcohol content, but you’ll also need to choose between unflavored varieties, such as grain alcohol or vodka, and more flavorful ones, such as rye. Keep in mind that higher-proof alcohols extract flavor more quickly but can leave a harsh aftertaste.

Aromatics

This is where you get to personalize your bitters and experiment. Be it bark, berry, or herb, something must be added to that alcohol to give it complexity and distinctiveness (and turn it into bitters). Most commercial bitters use relatively unknown ingredients such as gentian, but our recipes use items that can be found at high-end groceries or health food stores. You can venture farther afield if you’d like.

Aging and Agitating

These are key steps in flavor development. Aging (or steeping) helps extract flavor. Too little time and your bitters will be flat; too much and they’ll be unbalanced. Agitating (giving the mixture a shake every now and then) ensures that those flavors are dispersed throughout the mix, with no unexpected taste spikes.

Swing-Top Glass Bottles with Extra Gaskets and Labels, 6 for $19.95 on Amazon

Perfect for bottling your bitters, whether to keep or to give as gifts.

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Related Reading: The Best Cocktail Books for Your Home Bar | Chic Bar Cart Gifts Under $100

How to Use Bitters

In drinks, obviously, but try using bitters in baking to replace some or all of the vanilla extract (or other extract called for), or add a few drops to things like roasted vegetables and even soup to add a little oomph. Just use a very light hand and taste as you go, because they can easily overwhelm if used too liberally.

Though bitters can no longer be sold legally as health remedies and we are not doctors, many people still turn to these mixtures to relieve ailments like hiccups (the suggested method: take a lemon wedge, coat it in sugar, then douse it with some bitters before biting down), upset stomachs (take a few dashes of bitters in a glass of club soda or ginger ale), and headaches.

We can only vouch for their culinary purposes.

Homemade Bitters Recipes

Here are some recipes to get you started.

Aromatic Bitters

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Use anywhere you’d add angostura bitters—such as in a Manhattan—but know that this version has a more subtle effect on the drink than its inspiration. Get our Aromatic Bitters recipe.

Sunshine Bitters

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The hue of these complex cardamom bitters—which comes courtesy of saffron—is what gives them their name. The recipe came to us via San Francisco restaurant Nopa, where it’s used in the Girasol cocktail, but add a scant sprinkle to the glaze for a lemon pound cake too. Get our Sunshine Bitters recipe.

Orange Bitters

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A perfect citrusy match for a Casino cocktail. Try adding a dash to roasted carrots for an unexpectedly delicious boost. Get our Orange Bitters recipe.

Cherry-Vanilla Bitters

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Take the angostura bitters and the cherry out of your next Old Fashioned and use this twofer for a smart variation. Or use in place of some of the vanilla extract in your next batch of cupcakes. Get our Cherry-Vanilla Bitters recipe.

Grapefruit Bitters

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These were made exclusively for our Sparkling Campari Cocktail but would also add a refreshing jolt to simple sparkling water for a low-alcohol option. Add a dash to a winter fruit salad for another nuance of flavor too. Get our Grapefruit Bitters recipe.

Related Video: A Top Bartender Talks About Her Favorite Tools

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These Comforting Cold-Weather Recipes Will Warm Your Soul

When you know a winter storm is brewing, plan your hibernation with all the creature comforts, especially if you’re having guests over or are headed to the mountains. Cold weather recipes are what you need to spread the warmth inside and out. This menu can last you a whole weekend, with mix-and-match breakfasts and snacks, plus a great, hearty dinner.

The recipes are a satisfying mix of slow-cooked, quick-baked, and easy-to-make food, perfect for when the next storm starts to unleash its fury. They’re stick-to-your-ribs recipes for those harsh winter days.

Related Reading: The Best Bone Broths for Easy & Warm Nutrition This Winter

Breakfast Recipes

Hootsla (Egg Bread)

Kinda like French toast but with zero sophistication and 100-percent awesome, the dish is a quirky Pennsylvania Dutch dish that’s filling and easy to make: What’s not to love? Get our Hootsla (Egg Bread) recipe. (And serve it with our Braised Sweet Sausage recipe, cooked with a little orange juice, maple syrup, and orange zest.)

Frittata Lorraine

Frittatas are like crustless quiches, and this frittata is like a ham-and-cheese sandwich with no bread, Canadian bacon, and Gruyere cheese. Sautéed shallots offer a heavenly aroma. Get our Frittata Lorraine recipe.

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Sure, there may be three parts to this recipe, but it’s not hard really. And look at the pile of lusciousness you get at the end! Just think of sinking your fork into that fluffy, gooey flapjacks stack. Get our Carrot Cake Pancakes recipe.

Salted Caramel and Banana Breakfast Strata

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Easier and just as indulgent (maybe more so), this can be assembled ahead of time and works just as well for dessert as it does for breakfast (the bananas make it morning-acceptable, right?). Use store-bought caramel sauce if you like and add salt to taste. Get our Salted Caramel and Banana Breakfast Strata recipe.

Snack Recipes

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Heavy cream, milk, brie, and Monterey Jack cheese enrich this spinach artichoke dip that you can’t stop scooping til it’s gone. Get our Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip recipe.

Nutty Trail Mix

Comfort food isn’t necessarily rich and heavy—it can be something that stirs nostalgia, and trail mix does just that. Plus, you need to keep your energy up if you’re venturing outside to ski, snowshoe, or just walk around the park that looks so pretty under a coat of powder. This munchie, crunchy snack has the fiber and protein to do the trick when you’re on the go. Dried fruit contrasts the salty almonds and peanuts, aided by crunchy plantains. Get our Nutty Trail Mix recipe.

Easy Kettle Corn

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A little sugar added to that salt and oil makes this a kettle-style corn of the popped variety especially loved by people with a sweet tooth. Get our Easy Kettle Corn recipe and settle in on the couch with blankets and Netflix for a mini hibernation.

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins

Meatloaf can be a finger food when you make it in muffin tins—and this chicken parm version is stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese, which makes it even better; ditto the crisp panko and tomato sauce topping. You can make the mixture and form the mini loaves in advance, then hold in the fridge until you’re ready to top them and bake just before serving. Get our Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins recipe.

Related Reading: 17 New Ways to Use Your Muffin Pans

Side and Salad Recipes

Classic Macaroni and Cheese

What’s nice about this recipe is its versatility. It works beautifully as both a creamy stovetop dish with any sort of mix-ins you like, and as a crunchy baked mac ‘n’ cheese sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs. Get our Classic Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

Related Reading: Hearty Winter Pasta Recipes to Keep You Cozy

Warm Escarole and Mushroom Salad

The acidity of this salad pairs well with a heavy, rich main dish, like meaty roasts, and creamy pastas (dairy is like a base, the opposite of acid)—but the meaty mushrooms make the salad itself pretty satisfying. You can use almost any small type of mushroom you like. Get our Warm Escarole and Mushroom Salad recipe.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Mushrooms

Jack Cheese and Grits Soufflé

Only seven ingredients in this recipe, and milk, butter, eggs, and salt are more than half of them. Not so bad. This isn’t a tricky soufflé like you think it is, so don’t be afraid to try it when company’s coming. Get our Jack Cheese and Grits Soufflé recipe.

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens

Collards are often cooked with smoked ham hocks, but smoked turkey drumsticks are a great substitute and yield more meat than ham hocks. Cleaning and trimming 5 pounds of greens is the hardest part of this recipe—after that, it’s easy. Get our Slow Cooker Collard Greens recipe.

Main Recipes

Garlicky Pot Roast

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Eight heads of garlic (yes, we meant heads, not cloves) may seem excessive, but after a long, slow cook time, they caramelize into mellow gold that suffuse this dish with fantastic flavor. There’s a surprising secret ingredient that further adds to the alluring flavor of this easy, tender roast, but nobody will be able to guess what it is. Plan on roasting the garlic ahead of time since it takes a while, then break out the slow cooker on the day you want to serve the dish. Get our Garlicky Pot Roast recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

You could make the crisp-fried buffalo chicken in this recipe on its own (well, still best to serve it with blue cheese sauce), but inside a gooey grilled cheese sandwich on fluffy, crispy challah, it’s even better. Get our Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese recipe.

Spicy Slow Cooker Chili

To start developing the flavors, sauté vegetables, ground beef, and spices, then put the mixture into the slow cooker along with tomatoes and kidney beans. Let the chili cook overnight or all day until it’s thickened and has a nice beefy flavor, then stir in jalapeños for a kick of heat. Get our Spicy Slow Cooker Chili recipe.

Related Reading: The Best Slow Cooker Cookbooks for Everybody

Veggie Stew

Squash, chickpeas, Yukon golds, carrots, parsnips, spinach, even raisins, for added sweetness—this is a slow-cooked vegan feast that is sure to warm your soul on a cold winter night. Get our Slow Cooker Root Vegetable Stew recipe.

Related Reading: Edible Holiday Gifts That Are Vegan Friendly

Dessert Recipes

Mocha Pudding Cake

Seriously, add some freshly brewed coffee and pour it into your cake batter. Come on, do it. With some cocoa powder and brown sugar too, this is a moist, chocolate lovers’ dream. Get our Mocha Pudding Cake recipe.

Related Reading: How to Make Restaurant-Worthy Chocolate Lava Cakes With Just 5 Ingredients

Dutch Apple Pie

Apple pie is always delicious. Dutch apple pie—covered, not with a crust, but with a thick, sweet, and crunchy streusel—is super-delicious. Get our Dutch Apple Pie recipe.

Churro-Style Waffles with Spiced Chocolate and Coconut Crema

These yeast-raised waffles have a little extra texture from semolina and a churro-inspired coating of cinnamon sugar. As if that wasn’t enough, they’re drizzled with a chile-spiked dark chocolate sauce and a lightly sweetened coconut cream sauce too. Get our Churro-Style Waffles with Spiced Chocolate and Coconut Crema recipe. And feel free to wait til morning and serve them for breakfast instead.

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