Hot Winter Drink: Vin Chaud

Sometimes you need a hot warm-up beverage on a cold winter day, and we found a fast, flawless video recipe from French-born San Francisco graphic designer Delphine Wibaux - she put it together while her family was in the Alps, the perfect wintery backdrop. Everything can be made in the same dutch oven on your stovetop; just simmer all ingredients (in a red wine base; Del even includes a kiddie variation you can make) then let the mixture sit for an hour on warm. Bottoms up! 

Update Your Thanksgiving Dinner This Year

If you find yourself going through the every-year-it's-Thanksgiving motions, stressing out and rushing around preparing the Big Meal, why not change it up a little and add some new twists to familiar recipes. There are exciting, non-traditional recipes like the Mole-Roasted Turkey with Masa Stuffing and Chili Gravy (see top photo); click the link for the delicious Epicurious recipe.

The recipe ideas in the following Howcast video are particularly good if you've got some adventurous eaters in your family - or if you'd just like to throw a few curveballs into the holiday. Click here for a written transcript of the recipes and ideas in the video. It's always good to find new traditions and shake out the cobwebs. "We've always done the turkey this way" or "green bean casserole is always the best with this can of soup" are no longer good excuses for being more creative.