Food News / December 2017

Grab your mugs and try this delicious, boozy twist on classic hot cocoa: wine-infused hot chocolate! Can you really combine two of the best things in the universe? The answer is yes! It may not get you buzzed, but it will give you that warm fuzzy feeling. It’s simple to make, too, and you can experiment with different recipes until it’s just right. Head to EliteDaily.com and search “wine hot chocolate.”

Let’s face it … fruitcakes face lots of criticism and are notoriously re-gifted. But with December ringing in National Fruitcake Month—who knew?—we’d like to change your mind. Although these desserts have a bad rap, it wasn’t always so. For hundreds, maybe thousands of years, they were a popular staple around the world—from Egypt to Rome. Help fight the stigma and try Food Network’s Five-star Free-range Fruitcake recipe from Alton Brown. FoodNetwork.com/Recipes.

Celebrated for seven days starting December 27, Kwanzaa got its name from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits of the harvest.” The table is set with symbolic foods, like mazoa—fruits and vegetables symbolizing the bounty of the harvest. Other staples include soul-soothing Southern foods and African flavors like Moroccan-spiced couscous dishes, collard greens and spiced yams. Food websites offer inspiration—AllRecipes, Epicurious and more. There are even Kwanzaa wines recommended in this issue’s “Wines for Every Holiday.”

The Daily Meal has been ranking the best pizzas since 2012. This year, their “101 Best Pizzas in the Country” spans 23 states—with four pizza places in the Philly area making the cut! Lorenzo and Sons, known for their jumbo cheese slices, ranked number 71. Head to their West Chester location on Gay and High Streets and taste for yourself. TheDailyMeal.com.