For many, ham becomes the star of special meals like Easter and Christmas because it’s a time of year that calls for a special menu, and whole hams aren’t something most families invest the time and money in for normal weekly meals. So this collection of recipes features memorable mains fit for a holiday meal in addition to dressed-up daily dinner favorites for less adventurous palates. And yes, there’s also lamb, the de facto alternative for a ham-free Easter feast.

A version of this article was originally published March 2019. 

In researching this story, two things transpired. First, we came away with a tasty arsenal of new recipes (or new spins on old favorites) that, if nothing else, should prove a welcome addition to the dinner table. But, more poignantly, we realized how food serves as both an equalizer and a connector — it is a tie that binds women in history across all races, professions, classes and time periods.

So, feast your eyes on the following recipes inspired by some of history’s most badass women. You’ll get to see some of your heroes in a different light and, when all is said and done, you can quite literally feast.

A version of this article was originally published March 2019. 

If I said the word “icon” and asked who comes to mind, I’d bet my whole paycheck that an image of country music superstar, Grammy Award-winning artist, actress, philanthropist, and general super hero, Dolly Parton pops up in your mind. You probably already know about Parton’s 11 Grammy Awards, 54 Grammy nominations, 2 Oscar nominations, and maybe even the two million free books she sends to kids all around the world each month, but did you know that she always keeps bologna and Velveeta cheese stocked in her fridge? Neither did we.

Dolly Parton recently renewed her partnership with Duncan Hines for the third year and to celebrate, she added six new baking mixes to her Bake Like a Rockstar Baking Collection and then sat down to tell us all about them. In addition to Dolly’s new baking mixes, which include delicious treats like banana nut muffins and buttermilk pancakes, we spoke to Dolly about everything from Girl Dinners to the two ingredients she always keeps stocked in her fridge: Velveeta and bologna. Oh and if you ever wondered if she prefers brisket or fried chicken, we talked about that too.

Check out our fun interview with the legendary Dolly Parton up above and be sure to try out her new baking mixes available now from Baking With Dolly’s website and Walmart.

Of course, Super Bowl-level snacking means you (a) either step up your game or (b) you resign yourself to an evening filled with greasy chips, bar nuts and, well, whatever other generic junk food you have stashed in your pantry. You can do better than that though, even if you don’t have the energy to make an assortment of unique chicken wing recipes this year, because Trader Joe’s has your back.

Not only can you finger perfectly portable and convenient finger foods, but it won’t set you back your entire paycheck just to feed your friends. Plus, since TJ’s food is artisanal and interesting, you’ll come off looking like the MVP host who put extra time and energy into creating a fun Super Bowl menu for everyone.

You can score (sorry, couldn’t resist) the following quick, delicious and Super Bowl worthy snacks at your local Trader Joe’s just in time for the big game.

A version of this story was originally published January 2020. 

Whether you’re a dry rub or a glaze fan, making chicken wings from home is simpler than you think. For many recipes, it merely requires throwing the wings into an oven and letting them bake to get as crispy a texture as you’d like. And if you’re brave, you can try your hand at traditional deep-fried chicken wings, too.

Just for you, we’ve rounded up irresistible chicken wing recipes in nearly every flavor imaginable. Ever have dill pickle wings? No? Find the recipe in this list and get to it. You’ll also find tried-and-true classics with a tasty twist, like bourbon-maple wings and chipotle-honey wings.

Are you ready? Have a whole roll of paper towels nearby — you’re going to need them.

A version of this article was originally published in January 2016.

If you’re putting together a big New Year’s Eve bash to ring in 2024, you need everything from decorations, to party favors, food, drinks, and more. Even though we’re deep into the final adjustments of Christmas planning, we’re here to help you get ready to say goodbye to 2023 and hello to a new year! Every great party starts with food, and who doesn’t love a charcuterie board? Thanks to all the options available at Target, you can put together the best charcuterie board for your NYE celebration.

Whether you’re making a charcuterie board from scratch, or need a last-minute, pre-made tasting board with all the fixings, Target has you covered. You’ll find everything you need when you shop some of our favorite selections below! Take a look at the affordable ways you can build your own charcuterie board for New Year’s Eve.

Columbus Charcuterie Tasting Board

$15.99

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If you find yourself running out of time to put a charcuterie board together from scratch, don’t worry. Target has you covered with the Columbus Charcuterie Tasting Board. This board comes packed with all the essentials you need for NYE entertaining. What’s included with this $16 charcuterie board? We’re glad you asked! Enjoy Italian Dry Salami, Calabrese Salami, White Cheddar Cheese, La Panzanella Multigrain Crackers, Castelvetrano Olives, and Dark Chocolate Covered Cranberries complete with a board fully organized for your party. You’ll be so glad you had this pre-made charcuterie board on hand.

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Wood Cutting & Serving Board

$19.99

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Have time to make your own charcuterie board from scratch? Target has everything you need! Start with the basics — or where the charcuterie board begins. The Wood Cutting & Serving Board from Hearth & Hand with Magnolia is the perfect board to set all of your meats, cheeses, fruits, and veggies for your charcuterie board. This 11″ x 16″ board gives you plenty of space for every morsel.

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Hickory Farms Charcuterie Board

$29.99

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With Hickory Farms’ Charcuterie Board, you have everything you need to start decorating the centerpiece of your table for NYE. This pre-made board featuring all the ingredients of a decadent charcuterie board comes with Farmhouse Summer Sausage, Smoked Gouda Blend, Golden Toasted Crackers, Belgian Ale Mustard, Strawberry Fig Jam. Cut up your meats and cheese and set-up your spread however you like with Hickory Farms’ Charcuterie Board.

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Before you go, check out our top foolproof holiday gifts for absolutely everyone on your list:

Hosting a holiday is a serious undertaking — especially when you have about 20 dishes to make and you don’t have the luxury of multiple ovens. Sure, we all wish we had a stainless-steel double oven paired with a fancy fridge and granite countertops, but the reality for most of us is that we have only one oven. While it seems like the only solution is to jump ship and have someone else host, don’t give up yet. You can cook a holiday meal dinner in one oven, and we’re here to help you figure out how to maximize your oven space during the holiday season.

Can you cook 2 or more dishes in the oven at once?

Yes. Most people fret when it comes to cooking two dishes at once, but it’s your oven’s job to keep the internal temperature set to what you selected. It may have to work a little harder when two or more cold dishes are inserted but trust that it will do its job.

The dishes will typically take 15 percent longer to cook than if only one is cooking, so adjust the time accordingly. To ensure even cooking, make sure the oven is fully preheated before inserting dishes, and rotate the dishes halfway through. We highly recommend purchasing an oven thermometer because even though the dial is set to the correct temperature, the temperature inside could be totally different.

You can also try using cast iron cookware to cook your food in because cast iron holds heat a lot better than traditional cookware so you won’t lose as much heat if you do need to open the oven to add a new dish. We recommend Le Creuset cookware for optimal heat retention.

Lodge also makes quality cast iron cookware at an affordable price.

Can you cook one dish & bake another simultaneously?

Yes, but there are some guidelines you’ll need to follow. First, baked goods are not flexible when it comes to temperature. Preheat the oven to the correct temperature for the baked good. Most cooked dishes are flexible when it comes to temperature — this includes meats, veggies, casseroles, baked potatoes and the like. It may take a little less or more time for the cooked dish to be done, but it will turn out the same. Baked goods are more of a science, and each variable needs to be precise.

Second, make sure the meat (or main dish) doesn’t have a strong flavor, such as garlic. If that’s the case, it’s best to cook the items separately so the flavors don’t cross over.

Tips for cooking multiple dishes

A version of this article was originally published in November 2013. 

Before you go, check out these Ina Garten-Approved holiday gift ideas:

Watch: Giada De Laurentiis Just Shared a Bunch of Holiday Cooking & Hostess Tips With Us & They Are Brilliant

It’s that time of year — holiday entertaining season! With the winter holidays comes a string of get-togethers and parties. If you’re prepping to host an upcoming shindig or soiree, we want to help. We tracked down some delicious ready-to-bake holiday appetizers at Target, and they’re all under $10!

You’ll be the host or hostess with the mostess thanks to these delectable holiday appetizers. These morsels are perfect for holiday entertaining. There’s something for everyone here! From mini quiches, to a Greek staple, even a classic appetizer with an elevated twist. Shop some of our favorites below.

Frozen Petite Quiche Collection

$7.69

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Bring a signature breakfast bake to your holiday party with the Frozen Petite Quiche Collection. This ready-to-bake appetizer features 12 scrumptious mini quiches in flavors like three cheese and onion, spinach and Swiss cheese, and mushroom and pepper. There’s something for everyone to love with this appetizer.

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Frozen Spanakopita

$7.69

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Another great selection is the Frozen Spanakopita! This Greek-inspired appetizer features spinach and feta cheese in a delicate phyllo pastry. Enjoy every bite of these easy-bake appetizers.

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Frozen Parmesan Pastry Wrapped Mini Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

$7.69

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Finally, we have a holiday appetizer staple with a fun twist. The Frozen Parmesan Pastry Wrapped Mini Uncured Beef Hot Dogs takes the classic pigs in a blanket to a whole new level. These little hot dogs are sprinkled with a blend of Parmesan cheese and ready to enjoy as soon as you take them out of the oven.

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Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

It’s hard to get a gift for the person who has everything, but it’s easy to buy for the person who eats everything. We love choosing gifts for our foodie friends because it’s the perfect time to splurge on the upgraded versions of everyday items we use while cooking and eating. We’re talking deluxe hot sauce, kitchen tools that are a total lifesaver, of course, some unique drink options. Take a look at our holiday gift guide for foodies below, then get ready to load your cart with presents. And if you end up adding a few items for yourself…well, we won’t tell Santa.

Diaspora Co. The Trio

$31.00

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Using fresh, single-origin spices is one of the fastest ways to improve your favorite dishes, and with this set, The Trio from Diaspora Co., you can also be certain that your money is going toward paying farmers in India and Sri Lanka 6x more than the commodity price for their products. The company’s mission is to ensure that their farm partners are paid a living wage. And, needless to say, you can taste the quality, especially in this set of Aranya Black Pepper, Sirārakhong Hāthei Chillies, and Pragati Turmeric.

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Capital City Mambo Sauce 2-Pack

$14.44 $16.99 15% off

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When you think of regional wing styles, your mind probably travels to Buffalo, and when it comes to barbecue sauce, perhaps you think of Memphis or Kentucky. But what about Washington, D.C.? The city has its own regional style of wing sauce called mambo sauce, and it’s just as good on chicken wings as it is slathered on ribs or drizzled on burgers. Get a two pack from Capital City Mambo Sauce, featuring the Original Mild flavor that has a tomato base and slightly sweet, tangy flavor, and the Sweet Hot mambo sauce, which is infused with cayenne and habanero peppers.

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Acid League The Secret Sauce Kit

$62.00 $72.00 14% off

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We first became obsessed with Acid League after trying their spicy, tangy, sweet, Meyer lemon Saffron Gold sauce, and since then we’ve added to our collection. Now, you can try four of the brand’s most exciting offerings in their Secret Sauce Kit. The All the Alliums sauce is a punchy, potent alternative to Worcestershire sauce that we add to basically anything savory, while the Wild Berry Balsamic wakes up salads and marinades alike. Last but definitely not least, the funky Liquid Kimchi is one of the best ways to liven up soups, noodles, and egg dishes.

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Red Lake Nation Cultivated Wild Rice

$9.50

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For those who like nutrition-packed foods (or just food that tastes really good!), you can’t go wrong with some deliciously nutty, slightly sweet, hearty wild rice. It’s been cultivated by indigenous groups in North America, like The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, for centuries, and these days they are still cultivating and harvesting it. Wild rice soup, wild rice pilaf, or a breakfast of wild rice porridge add flavor and nutrition to your day. Grab a bag of Red Lake Nation Foods wild rice for yourself and one as a gift. They make great stocking stuffers for cooks!

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Fly By Jing The Good-On-Everything Trio

$46

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At this point, it seems like chili crisp, popularized by the Lao Gan Ma brand, has reached sriracha-levels of popularity. It makes sense, then, that there are tons of new brands popping up that take the foundational condiment and turn it into something truly special. Fly By Jing’s chili crisps are so delicious, we’ve been known to eat them with a spoon, and this trio features two varieties of crisp and one mouthwatering sauce. The Sichuan Chili Crisp is their take on the classic, with tingly, savory spice. The Chengdu Crunch doubles down on crunch to add texture to any dish. Then, there’s the Zhong Sauce, inspired by Chengdu’s Zhong Dumplings. It’s sweet, tangy, spicy, and savory, and one of the best things we tasted this year.

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Graza Drizzle & Sizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil Set

$37.00

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Olive oil is essential for cooking, but it can be hard to find bottles that are both high-quality and affordable. Graza’s Spanish Olive Oil is just that. Their “Sizzle & Drizzle” combo pack includes one bottle of extra virgin olive oil to use for cooking, and one bottle to use as a finishing element. It’s the perfect olive oil for gifting.

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Burlap & Barrel Chef's Collection

$54.99 $57.94 5% off

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Burlap & Barrel’s single-origin spices and blends are shockingly good if you’re used to exclusively using grocery store spices. One that really blew our minds is the Red River Coriander, which comes in a grinder-top jar so you can use it freshly ground — the citrusy, herbal flavor is delicious in everything from Christmas spice cookies to meat rubs and marinades. Tasting it made us feel like we had never really tried coriander before. Want to try a variety of spices? Their Chef’s Collection is loaded with unique flavors like Cloud Forest Cardamom, Black Lime, and Cobanero Chili.

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Real Oyster Cult Oysters Gift Bundle

$91.00

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If you know someone who goes gaga over seafood, a fresh delivery of oysters from Real Oyster Cult is bound to be a hit. You can choose from monthly subscriptions, gift bundles, and holiday tasting packages, all featuring the freshest varieties of farmed oysters from across North America. They ship for free in New England, and for a fee in the rest of the country. This gift bundle includes 40 of two different varieties of oysters, along with a shucking knife and gloves.

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Heilala Vanilla Holiday Season Vanilla Extract Trio

$60.48

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What do you get for the baker in your life during the holidays? Chances are, they’ve already got the basics down pat, so why not treat them to something a little special? Heilala is known for its vanilla, but their Holiday Season Vanilla Extract Trio is extra special. It’s a three pack that features Gingerbread, Butterscotch, and Apple Pie flavored vanilla extracts, which are the perfect way to add a touch of special flavor to all manner of cookies, cakes, and baked goods.

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Holiday Gifts For the Kitchen

Masienda Tortilla Starter Kit

$115

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Masienda celebrates the art of making tortillas from farm to table. They source beautiful heirloom corn to make their masa harina, and we can vouch for the quality and flavor of their product over grocery store brands. And you can make a lot more with masa than tortillas, tamales, and sopes — it’s delicious in cookies, too. Bobby Flay named Masienda’s Doña Rosa x Masienda Tortilla Press one of his top gift ideas of the year in 2022, and we think this Masienda Tortilla Starter Kit, which includes the sleek, modern press and two bags of Heirloom Corn Masa Harina, is the cream of the crop.

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Hedley & Bennet Herb Garden Apron

$105

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If you know someone who’s always in the kitchen, chances are they could use an apron. Even if they have a few already, they always need to be washed, and the durability and beauty of a Hedley & Bennet apron makes them an ideal holiday gift for cooks. We’re kind of obsessed with this flower-print apron, which is a collaboration with Rifle Paper Co. But don’t let the pretty design fool you — this apron can stand up to anything you throw at it while cooking (and they come in dozens more colors and patterns, too).

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Tramontina 12-Inch Fry Pan Stainless Steel

$49.95 $70.00 29% off

Buy Now On Amazon

If you’ve only been using nonstick cookware for years, we’ve got something to tell you: you’re missing out. Stainless steel is a versatile and much more long-lasting option, with no finnicky finish that can get scratched off, and you can use it at high heat for getting a great sear on meat and vegetables alike. And with proper use (wait for the pan to get hot enough that a drop of water evaporates on it, then add oil, then adjust the heat) you won’t have to worry about ingredients sticking anyway. This Tramontina skillet is an affordable way to add stainless steel to the kitchen.

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Nordic Ware Sheet Pans

$26.98 $51.80 48% off

Buy Now On Amazon

We don’t know what it is, but it seems like everyone we know has a sheet pan or two that looks like it’s been through a war…a war that took place like 200 years ago. You know, the kind that are warped and make terrifyingly loud banging noises in the oven as they bend with the heat. Maybe it’s time for an upgrade? This three-pack of durable aluminum sheet pans works for everything from baking cookies to roasting veggies

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Before you go, check out these Ina Garten-Approved holiday gift ideas:

Watch: Giada De Laurentiis Just Shared a Bunch of Holiday Cooking & Hostess Tips With Us & They Are Brilliant

‘Tis the season of family gatherings and huge dinners. So, to prepare us for the food-filled, wonderful days and evenings ahead, we need the best of the best kitchen tools and appliances to make every dish mouth-watering. And for those who rely on slow cooking to feed friends and family, the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Programmable Slow Cooker in the color White Icing is currently marked down nearly $20 at Walmart.

The White Icing color in the slow cooker collection is normally priced at $69. But right now, you can grab it for just under $50. In fact, all hues of Barrymore’s slow cookers, including Sage, Cornflower, and the newest shade, Thyme, are on sale for $50, so you can get everyone on your shopping list a beautiful — literally — slow cooker that best suits their personality!

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker in White Icing

$50 $69 28% off

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The Beautiful 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker by Drew Barrymore is a powerful and space-saving cooker that is perfect to help feed the whole family. With its large capacity, it can serve up to seven people easily and can cook the family meal of chicken, beef, pork, soup, and/ or chili perfectly. Whether you need it to cook for 30 minutes or 20 hours, this can do it all.

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If you need more of the specs to tempt you to treat yourself, it is dishwasher-safe, has a stainless steel lid, cool tough handles, and is even shatter-resistant. Now, as we said, shoppers have been swarming to grab one of these for themselves, and they can’t stop praising it!

One shopper said, “This really is a BEAUTIFUL crock pot. The digital display is easy to navigate as well as the cord wrap and lid rest being very practical for storage and use.”

“I love this cooker from Drew Barrymore. It cooks so fast love the look of it. I love the lid holder and the cord hook for it you need to buy one youll love it like I do,” another shopper gushed.

A third shopper added, “This is absolutely the Cadillac of crockpots! Amazing features and beautiful is an understatement!”

Buy the White Icing slow cooker online and pick it up at your nearest Walmart just ahead of all your holiday cooking plans. Your dinner guests will love what creations you come up with — or maybe your favorite home chef will love what you put under the tree for them. Either way, this deal is a win!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below: