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We researched the features that make for stellar mugs including double-wall insulation for temperature control, leak- and spill-proof lids, and ease of drinking via a push-button, flip top, or straw. We also looked at less expected features like aesthetics and even self-brewing mugs. In the end, the Contigo 20-Ounce Autoseal West Loop Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug was our favorite for heat-retention and preventing spills. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the best travel coffee mugs to get your morning off to an amazing start....

That’s because bottom freezer refrigerators—particularly the ones with the sliding drawers that help keep things tidy—have a way of bringing to the foreground those forgotten bags of rice, those sticks of butter I bought in, what, 2019? They keep us neat, protect us against our own worst instincts. They also look a little more modern in your kitchen, especially when you add in smart capabilities or flex drawer features. More of these extra features are being added to fridges nowadays—just look at how many bells and whistles our best overall pick, the Samsung 30-Inch Wide 21....

Simply Recipes reader Alton Hoover sent me his favorite recipe for lasagna which he has been cooking since his college days. Alton’s original recipe created enough lasagna for a small army so I halved it. What is posted here will easily serve eight people. Video! How to Make Lasagna The Secret Behind This Classic Lasagna Recipe From what I can tell, the secret behind Alton’s lasagna is the addition of a little sugar to the sauce and using a bit more cheese than most other recipes....

Furthermore, because of their elasticity, silicone spatulas (unlike metal ones) are less likely to scratch your cookware, especially if you’re using coated ones. Plus, the best ones tend to be easier to clean than other types of spatulas. And I’d be remiss not to mention that silicone spatulas come in many fun shapes and colors. But how is one to choose from the many options available? To help you decide, I took into consideration the shapes and sizes of the spatula heads, the feel and length of the handles, and their overall durability, flexibility, and rigidity....

Danielle Bennett, also known as Diva Q, is the author of “Diva Q’s Barbecue: 195 Recipes For Cooking With Family, Friends & Fire” and host of Travel Channel’s BBQ Crawl. When choosing a small grill, Bennett urges us to, “get out of the mindset of inexpensive, disposable grills and see a grill as an investment, an outdoor appliance you will enjoy for many years.” A high-quality grill will have you “feeling like a backyard rockstar all the time,” says Bennett....

I’ll never forget the first time I tasted William Sonoma’s Peppermint Bark. I was working as the social media editor at Real Simple magazine, back when you had to go into the office every day. (Imagine that!) My co-workers and I received all sorts of samples, from food and wine to bras and home decor. It was our job to try things and decide if they were worth writing about for our readers—were the products worthy of your hard-earned money?...

This braising liquid and a hearty amount of garlic, ginger, and scallion creates a dish that is sweet, salty, sour, and savory (combining many tastes in one dish is key to successful Chinese cooking). If you want, you can add Sichuan peppercorns and star anise to develop more depth of flavor and a pleasant, tingly heat.

Here’s an idea for a quick turkey grilled cheese sandwich. We just happened to have some sweet pickled onions in the fridge, and some arugula growing in the garden, hence the throw-together sandwich. We’ve done something a little similar with cranberries and arugula, but this one is a grilled cheese sandwich. I think the onions are essential; I would have piled on more if we weren’t already running out. What’s your favorite leftover turkey sandwich combination?...

The sloppy joes of my youth tended to be either from a can or from a cafeteria, and neither were particularly special. The good news is that we can easily improve on them. The even better news is that kids still love sloppy joes! For this version, I use ground turkey—a riff on classic sloppy joes made with beef. I like turkey because it’s lean, and it also lets the other ingredients (like all those delicious veggies) shine....

In this vegetarian version, while not the same as a traditional bolognese, roasted cauliflower and mushrooms provide every bit as much flavor and texture as the meat version. Serve it over spaghetti, fettuccini, linguine, or pappardelle noodles, and you’ll enjoy a satisfying, filling dinner full of robust roasted vegetable flavors. The process of making this is not a slam-dunk in terms of time, but it does provide cooking therapy. When the steps occupy your mind, you can begin to focus on the moment, a good thing when times are challenging....

Pepper is yang to salt’s yin. When we think of one, we think of the other. Seasoning with pepper may be a conscious choice we make, but the act is so ingrained in our behavior we don’t always stop to consider its function. Salt is an essential nutrient; our bodies need it to survive. Pepper, by contrast, is a preference, there to add flavor and texture to our foods....

April is all about spring vegetables—asparagus and artichokes are at their peak, snap peas begin to make an appearance, as well as young carrots with their fern-like carrot tops, and fava beans. Spring garlic, spring onions, leeks and fennel are thriving, as are the first spring radishes. Winter citrus are fading, and while we are seeing some early strawberries, the “fruit” of April isn’t really a fruit, but a vegetable that acts like one—rhubarb....

Tough love It would be easy to just say hooray – I did a Whole30, and I feel great! Now I can go back to eating how I did before. But seriously, really!?! You just spent an entire 30 days cleaning your body out, bringing it back toward balance, and you want to just crap all over that by shoving your face with all the cheese, wine, grains and gluten?! What a waste of your Whole30....

This Pasta Fresca is nice and light and tasty to boot. It is a great low-cal pasta option, and even sneaks in healthy stuff like spinach and tomatoes. It is super easy to make at home and guess what? It is a 15 minute meal. Seriously. It literally takes 15 minutes to make this, start to finish. Start your water boiling for your pasta, prep your onions, mushrooms, garlic, spinach, and tomatoes, boil your pasta while you sauté your veggies, combine and serve....

Creamy soups come in all varieties. Some are made with a lot of heavy cream and others with just a splash of milk. Some creamy soups have no dairy at all, relying on the vegetables and sometimes other ingredients such as white beans to create a smooth, velvety soup for serving. Potatoes, winter squash, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and celery root are a few of the most common vegetables added to puréed soups for creaminess....

Because a lot of “traditional” holiday favorites feature non-Paleo ingredients such as heavy cream, canned soups, cheese and sweetened sauces, it takes a little effort to scour the internet for delicious, Paleo friendly recipes. Luckily for you though, we put together a list of 21 Tasty Paleo Thanksgiving Recipes just in case you are looking for some extra healthy recipes to add to your menu. This roundup is packed full of the yummiest Paleo Thanksgiving recipes!...

I had done my Christmas shopping before the baby was born, but I forgot about the stocking stuffers. Thankfully, I managed to fill my older son’s stocking on Christmas Eve, but left everyone else’s empty thinking he wouldn’t notice. Boy, was I wrong. He had lots of questions about why mommy, daddy, and the baby were on Santa’s naughty list.Now, stocking stuffers for everyone are on the top of my holiday shopping list....

Whether you don’t drink at all or are simply abstaining from alcohol for a bit, there are a number of fun sips to try, including non-alcoholic wine. After tasting my way through a handful, here’s what I learned and the bottles I recommend. What to Expect From Non-Alcoholic Wine As someone who enjoys and appreciates the real deal, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from non-alcoholic wine. I knew I probably wouldn’t find a bottle that tasted exactly like real wine, since the wine-making process is what gives grape juice its wine-like characteristics: tannins, nuanced aromas, distinctive flavors, all of which are mostly removed through dealcoholizing....

Choose from a classic Aglio e Olio (garlic pasta), tomato basil pasta, Spaghetti Napolitana (tomato pasta), Arrabiata (spicy tomato pasta), pasta with anchovies, spaghetti with olives and tuna pasta! 8 quick and easy Pasta Recipes Here are 8 quick pasta recipes that are simple Italian classic pasta dishes. Don’t mistake simple for bland, because while these are quick and easy, all of these are totally slurp-worthy and you’ll find these on the menu of trattoria’s all across Italy....

Just a great pork chop marinade You know when something hits the pan and it smells so great than even if it’s the first time you’ve made that recipe, you know it’s going to be a winner? This is one of those. 🙂 Plus, the added bonus is that there is a very good chance that all the ingredients are already in your pantry. Checklist: soy sauce brown sugar mustard garlic pepper Worcestershire Sauce (I never spell that right first go!...