Gingerbread Men Cookies

BEST Gingerbread Men Cookies! Deeply flavored with spices and molasses, tender or crispy depending on how long you bake them.

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Meal Prep Containers That Will Get You Excited About Making Your Own Lunch

We know. Making your lunch and bringing it to work can seem somewhat…laborious. All that chopping and big batching on Sunday takes work, but it’s also the only way to stay on your keto, paleo, or Whole30 plan starting January 2. What you need is motivation—and that can come in the form of the right meal prep container. Which is why we rounded up some of our favorites—the good-looking and functional ones that will not only put you in the lunch-making spirit but maybe transform you into one of those people who never spends $15 on an overpriced chopped salad again.

Glass Storage Containers with Lids, $38 on Amazon

Amazon

This 18-piece set is a dream for portioning out soups, stews, and brown-rice bowls and then tossing them in your work bag—the snap lids are completely spill-proof. (Hot tip: Use the tiniest one to tote condiments and dressings.)See it

Stasher Reusable Storage Bags, $40 on Sur La Table

Sur la Table

May you never buy another plastic bag again. These reusable silicone wunderkinds come in a variety of sizes (there are three in this set). Use one for your sando and the baby ones for cut carrots and berries.See it

Ball Quart Jar, $12 for Two on Amazon

Amazon

We know you’ve maybe heard of this one before, but still, there’s nothing more satisfying than constructing a gorgeous Mason jar salad, which is pretty much the perfect way to beat the “sad desk salad” blues.See it

Ello Meal Prep Container Set, $59 on Macy’s

Macy’s

These glass containers are wrapped in silicone to prevent from chipping, and the fun colors mean you’ll always be able to identify your lunch in the shared fridge at work.See it

Oxo Good Grips Leakproof On-The-Go Salad Container, $16 on Amazon

Amazon

This genius three-layer salad container separates your proteins and toppings from your greens, and a mini container with a twist-off top keeps your dressing in check.See it

Sistema Snacks Containers, $15.80 on Amazon

Amazon

Stash hummus and carrots or veggies and almonds in these tiny transparent cubes that have two layers. Suddenly your 3pm snack slump doesn’t automatically mean traipsing over to the vending machine.See it

Prepd Pack, $69 on Prepd.com

Prepd

This genius pack has a sleek bamboo cover and a Tetris-like modular design with containers that are completely spill-proof. (You can buy different sizes to mix and match.) Plus, it comes with magnetic cutlery, which decreases your chances of accidentally tossing one in the trash.

Takenaka Expanded Double Bento Box, $32 on Amazon

Amazon

Prove that you’re a Millennial who can actually cook (or at least one who remembers to bring those leftovers your friend gave you to work) with this double-decker bento box that can be converted into a one-tier box, too, depending on your haul.See it

Unichart Stainless Steel Square Lunch Box, $29 on Amazon

Amazon

This adorable triple-decker box isn’t just a looker: the top layer will keep your food warm for two to three hours.

Related Video: The One Sunday Night Meal Prep Kit That Keeps You Eating Healthy All Week

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Five Coffee Resolutions for the New Year

While everybody else is busy making empty promises about going to the gym and finally cleaning out the fridge, you could be considering making some caffeinated upgrades to your life in the new year. It’s not all that much of a stretch to suggest that improvements to your coffee routine are actually good for everyone, since they will probably make you a happier, more conscious, and certainly more awake person (at least some of the time). So you’re actually doing a public service while taking care of your java necessities; just think about it that way.

OXO On Barista Brain 9-Cup Coffee Maker, $199.95 on Amazon

Perhaps an equipment upgrade is in order for the new year too?

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Here are five simple coffee resolutions you might attempt this year, and they’re all as easy as A, B, C (for Cappuccino).

1. Befriend your barista.

Move over, bartenders of the world: Baristas are the true besties of the service industry. Sure, both work behind counters and both have the chance to see you at your most vulnerable, but baristas are there to start your day off right, and the right interaction over a latte or black coffee can set the tone for the day. Plus, when has a bartender ever handed you a scone with maple icing on top? If you frequent a café and manage to see the same employees every morning, don’t be shy about asking how their day’s been going before blurting out, “Gimme a cappuccino.” Who knows what “perks” might come with being a little extra nice? (Did somebody say “free drinks?”)

2. Buy better coffee.

Of course you’re already a coffee connoisseur, and you don’t need us to tell you that you should invest in coffee that tastes great. Now is a great time to make sure that your great-tasting coffee is also hitting the other “better” marks: Is it sustainably grown? Was it ethically traded? Are you happy supporting the business you bought it from? These can feel like huge, sticky questions, but taking them one by one can make the questions manageable to answer.

Sustainable farming can be determined by whether there are certifications like organic or Rainforest Alliance, though those aren’t necessary. Other indicators are things like pictures of a farm with shade trees, and a story about producers who care about conservation. Ethical trading follows that same line: If there’s a “fair trade” logo on the bag, ethical sourcing is a pretty safe bet. Other ways to tell that the farmer was probably paid a decent wage will be whether his or her name is on the bag, and the actual cost of the roasted beans. (If you’re buying a pound of coffee for anything less than $15, chances are the farmer’s getting squashed, in all honesty.) And lastly, what kind of businesses do you visit for your coffee? Do the employees seem happy and respected? Do they have the energy and resources to provide good and positive hospitality experiences? Do they know a lot about the coffee and seem interested? If you’re being greeted by blank stares (or no stares at all—avoid any café where the staff avoids eye contact), it might be time to take your money elsewhere.

Shutterstock

3. Sit and savor it.

We’re all in a rush, and every year, every day, every hour seems to go by quicker and quicker. Of course it’s hard to fit everything we have to do into the course of a day or a week, but just having a busy schedule shouldn’t mean that rest time and reflection aren’t priorities. If you are the eat-lunch-at-your-desk type and find that you’re scrambling all day to accomplish all your to-dos, try to find at least 15 minutes every week to take yourself out for coffee, or to set aside a quiet moment to sip and think without any other distractions. This means not drinking coffee in the car, not guzzling it in between taps on the keyboard all day, and actually tasting it and experiencing the sensory pleasures that a good cup of coffee can offer. After all, if the world or your job collapses because you took 15 minutes for yourself, then something seems pretty wrong, don’t you think?

4. Phone a friend.

Once you get a little bit used to taking that 15 minutes out for yourself in a week, try adding a little socialization to the mix once or twice a month. Phone a friend for a pre-work coffee date, schedule a meetup after work at a café instead of a bar, or relax on a weekend to catch up with a chum over mochas and cookies. Whoever you think makes good coffee company, call or text them with an invitation to grab a cup soon: You might be amazed at how much better everything tastes over good conversation.

5. Don’t fear the decaf.

Now, we know we said that these coffee tips would help you wake up, and for the most part we are advocates for coffee as a getting-going resource in the morning. Every once in a while, though, it’s important to remember that there are other reasons to love coffee besides just the jolt it provides, and that occasionally taking a break by doing the decaf can offer some really tangible benefits. For one thing, going full- or half-decaf can help soothe a body during anxious or stressed-out periods, and it can also help regulate off-kilter sleeping schedules. An occasional decaf coffee also means you can share a pot with a friend who’s given the stuff up during pregnancy or nursing. It might even give your caffeine tolerance a reboot, so that a little bit goes a longer way when you get back onto the “regular” coffee train. Join us in the new version of that old rally cry, “Decaf before death!”

Related Video: How to Clean Almost Every Coffee Maker

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What Is the Difference Between Seaweed and Kelp?

Whole Foods recently released its annual list of predicted healthy food trends for next year. Among the weird (cleaning supplies with probiotics) and the predictable (eco-conscious packaging), you’ll find the “marine munchies” category is still going strong in 2019. (That’s food made with the vegetable bounty of the sea.) Which means we’re all more than likely to be staring down more kelp noodles and seaweed-based after-school snacks this year. But what’s the difference between kelp and seaweed?

First, the similarities. Both are types of algae and are considered marine vegetables. Both are also incredibly nutritious, packed with vitamin A, calcium, iron, zinc, and iodine. Note, though, that both seaweed and kelp also have large amounts of iodine. Since too much iodine can negatively affect your thyroid, don’t plan on an excess of kelp-only smoothies.

Premium Roasted Organic Seaweed, $14.94 on Amazon

Organic nori makes a healthy, salty snack on the go!

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The difference between the two are subtle. Most of us know seaweed from eating nori rolls. But seaweed is more than just those dry, crackly sheets of edible paper. The word “seaweed” is really a catch-all term that covers red, brown, and green varieties of this particular type of algae. It can grow in a number of marine-based environments such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, though it’s often mistaken as only saltwater-based.

Korean Bap Sang

If you’re interested in trying different types of seaweed, there are many varieties to choose from. In addition to the dark green nori (which is actually in the red seaweed family), it’s worth getting to know dulsi, also a red seaweed, and wakame, a type of brown varietal. Dulse is mostly eaten dried and its flavor is often compared to bacon. So, yes, go ahead and think of it like a healthier version of bacon. On the other hand, wakame has a bit of a sweeter flavor and when dried can be rehydrated to use in salads and other dishes.

Though kelp is also a type of seaweed, it grows only in saltwater environments, which is why it’s harvested near rocky ocean coastlines. Because kelp is so much bigger than other varieties of algae, it needs the continuous movement of the water to get its nutrients. Kelp also doesn’t float around like seaweed. It stays in a single spot due to a root-like system called a “holdfast” that anchors it to the ocean floor and allows groups of kelp to grow together. Little bags of air help the heavy stalks to float.

gimMe Snacks

Kombu is the Japanese translation of kelp, so don’t fret if you see that word listed among the ingredients on the packaging of your new favorite snack. It’s also the primary ingredient in dashi, the broth used in many Japanese dishes. If you’ve had miso soup, you’ve tried kelp.

How To Use Both

Corn with Black Pepper Togarashi

A great example of using dried seaweed as a seasoning. The dried nori adds a pop of umami to the flavorful Japanese red pepper. Get our Corn with Black Pepper Togarashi recipe.

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Marinated Tuna, Shiitakes, and Bonito-Rosemary Aioli

Ed Anderson

This is a seriously time-intensive dish, make no mistake. But it perfectly showcases how kelp, used here in a homemade dashi broth, can elevate an entire meal. Get the recipe for yourself. Get our Quinoa Tabbouleh with Marinated Tuna, Shiitakes, and Bonito-Rosemary Aioli recipe.

Smashed Avocado, Kelp Noodle, and Lemon Bowl

Want a faster and easier meal to make? Use kelp noodles for the base of a salad. This vegan recipe demonstrates how it works well with flavorful staples such as avocado and lemon, and shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes to put together. Get the Smashed Avocado, Kelp Noodle, and Lemon Bowl recipe.

Toasted Sesame and Seaweed Popcorn

Dawn Jackson Blantner

Next time you decide to Netflix and chill, do it with popcorn that will also give you a mineral and vitamin boost. Get the Toasted Sesame and Seaweed Popcorn recipe.

Wakame Salad

Pisang Susu

Are you one of the many who are obsessed with seaweed salad every time you go out for sushi? You may be surprised to know that it’s typically made with wakame seaweed. Simply buy dried, rehydrate, and mix together with all of the other sweet and savory ingredients. Get the Wakame Salad recipe.

Seaweed Butter

Kitchn

If you can’t find dried dulse, the recipe provides simple steps to make it at home. This infusion adds a little extra saltiness and oomph in any dish that requires butter. Or, simply spread it on a piece of bread. Either way, your taste buds will be happy.

Related Video: Taste Test – Seaweed Snacks

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Broiled Lobster Tail with Brown Butter Sauce

Throwing a fancy party? Broiled Lobster Tail should definitely be on the menu. This step-by-step guide will show you exactly what to do. Serve with an easy browned butter and toasted hazelnut sauce!

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What is Mincemeat Pie?

One thing that always strikes me upon return from any trip to London is my own country’s glaring lack of meat pies. What gives? Wandering into a pub in London, of which there are many, you’re more likely than not to find a savory (or “savoury”) pie on the menu, and in some cases, an entire meat pie section. From beef, to lamb, chicken, and even vegetarian versions, these flaky, doughy, single-serving pies encase a mixture of protein, onions, vegetables, and a rich gravy often made with brandy, wine, or stout beer. A good meat pie is comfort food of the highest order, and though you might find chicken pot pie on the occasional American pub menu, I would contend we are the victims of a significant shortage.  

BBC

Delicious and filling meat pies of all sorts are devoured in English pubs all year round, but during the holiday season a specific version, called “mincemeat pie”, emerges dominant. Though recipes for mincemeat pie vary greatly, it is (broadly) a semi-savory pie, made from ground meat (often beef or lamb), stewed with fruits, like raisins, cherries, apricots, and apples, and traditional pie spices and flavorings, like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, brown sugar, or molasses.

2 Non-Stick 6 Cup Jumbo Muffin Pans, $13.98 on Amazon

Use a large muffin tin to make individual sized mincemeat pies

See it

Mincemeat pie is a decidedly English food, and can be traced back to the 11th century crusades. Armed with warm spices from the Middle East, the crusaders added much of said spice to the filling as a means of preserving, but also improving upon the likely not-so-fresh meat. King Henry V took favor to the dish, and began ordering it be served at Christmas, among other moments of celebration, like coronations and weddings. A flavorful booze like rum or brandy is often incorporated, as is suet, the hard fat of beef or lamb found around the loins and kidneys, which can be purchased in stores. Using exactly three spices was thought to represent the gifts brought by the three wise men to a newborn baby Jesus and became an important part of mincemeat pie-making.

Though by no means ubiquitous here in the U.S., mincemeat pie was brought to New England, along with many other English recipes and cooking traditions, by Puritan settlers. Because they largely rejected Christianity, and in turn Christmas, mincemeat was adapted as a Thanksgiving dish here in North America, but has since regained its rightful place as Christmas fare.

Daring Gourmet

Admittedly, tastes have changed since the first mincemeat pie was baked, and the concept of meat and fruit in the same dish might be a confusing, even unappetizing, proposition to some. The beauty in mincemeat lies in its openness to interpretation, and if the thought of raisins or cherries with beef is too much to handle, one can cut them and take mincemeat pie in a more savory direction, with ingredients like mushrooms and peas. To rightfully call it “mincemeat,” consider leaving some of the pie spices in, especially nutmeg and clove, which make for a warm, interesting flavor, and work especially well with lamb/mutton.  

Today you’d be unlikely to find mincemeat pie on many menus here, but English specialty shops like Myers of Keswick (New York City), will make and sell them, especially around the holidays. Your best bet is to make your own with easily found ingredients and a fairly simple process. Below are a few recipes for mincemeat pie, also known as “minced beef pie,” or simply “mince pie,” to try at home.

Authentic Mincemeat Pie

The Daring Gourmet

In this hyper-traditional recipe, the Daring Gourmet stresses the use of suet to round out the flavor. Suet will balance the sweetness of the fruit, also. Get the Authentic Mincemeat Pie recipe.

All-Fruit Mincemeat Pie

Tasting Table

Some interpretations of mincemeat pie remove meat altogether. Obviously more of a dessert, no animals were harmed in the making of this pie. Get the All Fruit Mincemeat Pie recipe.

Minced Beef Pie 

Another savory version from BBC food calls for beef mushrooms and assembled in a casserole dish or tray is intended for larger groups or parties. Get the Minced Beef Pie recipe.

Savoury Mince Pie

Hairy Biker

A savory version of mincemeat pie leaves the fruit behind and the addition of mirepoix vegetables, Worcestershire and ketchup resembles something you’re likely to find in most English pubs. Get the Savoury Mince Pie recipe.

Vegan Mince Pie

The Virtual Vegan

A vegan version subs in coconut oil for the lard or suet and heavily-spiced filling of dried fruits put this in the sweets category. Get the Vegan Mince Pie recipe.

Related Video: Kate Beckinsale Makes the Perfect Cup of English Tea

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Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies

Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies! These chewy, chocolate brownie cookies are studded with pieces of peppermint bark. They're the ultimate holiday treat! Best enjoyed next to a roaring fire with hot cocoa.

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