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    Maggie Nemser, Shine staff

    Maggie Nemser, Shine staff

  • 10 ways to save big at restaurants

    If you're like me, you love dining out and would sooner sacrifice cable and cell phones before you're willing to throw in the restaurant towel. Thankfully, there are cheap ways to do it, without having to make major sacrifices. Now is the time to learn how to love eating out for less and here are so

  • Shine woman of the year (food): April Bloomfield

    April Bloomfield is Shine's food woman of the year, but why? Because she's the no-b.s., super-talented lady responsible for making the gastropub (English pub food) movement accessible, and remarkably edible in the U.S. She also makes us feel very cool. How does she do it? Well, for one, she opened T

  • 15 (potentially) killer foods to avoid

    If you love fried foods, you gotta love Texas and state fairs. At either you can always find giant-sized versions of already-bad-for-you delicacies like "the hamdog" (hot dog wrapped in beef), with two friendly coats of artery-clogging, deep-fried love. While a fried Twinkie may seem tempting, are t

  • 4 Easy ways to dress up your grilled cheese

    Admit it: Even the most beloved staple of your diet can use a little makeover now and then, or life can get pretty boring, no? We consulted with Laura Werlin, author of "The Great Grilled Cheese" and all-round cheez wiz (sorry, couldn't resist), about ways to jazz up the classic sammie and she didn'

  • Question of the day: Are you still eating turkey?

    I just got off the phone with my grandmother who had just finished eating her sixth consecutive lunch consisting of mashed potatoes, turkey, and pie. I'm not sure about you, but I'm sick and tired of turkey and officially done eating leftovers. What about you? When did you stop eating Thanksgiving d

  • 5 easy (and cheap) appetizers in 5 minutes or less

    The holiday season is in full swing and so are the back-to-back cocktail parties. Whether you're hosting or attending this year, the objective is to bring or serve swoon-worthy, easy and delicious finger foods that save time and money. Here are five, five minute (or less) appetizers that will impres

  • Kitchen gadget gift guide: 5 game-changing cooking toys

    Great kitchen gadgets can take culinary skills to the next level. Here are 5 game-changing gift ideas that make whipping up creme brulee, making perfect deep fried chicken or stress-free cooking for a crowd, actually possible.Deep fat fryer ($100, Sur la Table)From chicken to goat cheese, toss whate

  • 6 Thanksgiving leftovers that beat the bloat

    It's normal to eat a bit more than you would normally on Thanksgiving, but if you're concerned about holiday weight-gain, don't wait too long to go back to your healthier and more portion-controlled eating habits. Start the very next day by turning your tasty leftovers into healthy meals. Here are 5

  • Jose Andres’ Thanksgiving tapas party menu

    If you're yawning at the thought of turkey, stuffing and mashed, then we've got the right menu for you. Chef Jose Andres, famous for modern twists on traditional Spanish fare, put together an exclusive Thanksgiving tapas party menu for Shine. These delicious recipes, hand-picked by Chef Andres, were

  • Turkey sushi: Gross or delicious? You decide

    The funny guys at Thrillist made me lose my appetite this week when they featured this "unique" roll that's being served (with a straight face) at a sushi joint in LA.This Thanksgiving sushi special, topped with gravy, is action-packed with roasted turkey, rice, dill, chives, avocado, sprouts and cu

  • Wanted: Homemade goods that make great gifts

    Are you baking cookies, cakes or brownies for the holidays? Is there a lasagna that keeps the invitations coming or a soup that makes your family swoon? If you're stumped, here are 14 great homemade cookies for all tastes and if you want to play it super safe and not leave any person taste preferenc

  • Official American serving size: 7 eggs per omelet?

    A friend recently started calling me Mag-a-muffin so I decided that it was probably a good time to slam the cabinet on my muffin addiction. To start my anti-muffin movement on a high note, I popped into a cute breakfast place this morning for a delicious omelet.After waiting a significantly long tim

  • 6 Things that I must eat and drink before I see my family

    Every Thanksgiving, I proudly tell my mother that I've really cut down on my Diet Coke intake. You see, I know it makes her happy to hear and I'm being honest because I haven't cracked one since I left my apartment, about 8 hours ago.We all have things that we won't eat or drink in the presence of o

  • Subway or Quiznos: You decide

    My friend called me the other day lamenting his lunch choice of a Quiznos sub. He felt heavy and wished that he instead went for a Subway sandwich. I felt his pain, but there's a time and a place to do the Quiz. There's something to be said for their stick-to-your-ribs sandy, but I do love how Subwa

  • 5 Best beginner cookbooks to give a novice chef

    If you're sick of your significant other's signature mac and cheese or simply want to give an aspiring chef a new hot cookbook, here are five of the best beginner cookbooks for the new chef. They make great holiday gifts and are all under 25 bucks. For the dude's dude who wants to improve his microw

  • Tyler Florence's hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows = magically delicious

    This week was a doozy. The days felt super short and my heat-free apartment, super cold. I suddenly realized something -- it's officially hot chocolate time. No more of this "get ready for" business. The time is now which would explain my hankering for warm drinkable chocolate in a cup. I did a litt

  • Don't rub your chopsticks together (and other sushi etiquette for dummies)

    If you're someone who always asks for a spoon with their miso soup, you may need a sushi etiquette lesson and Sushi for Dummies is a good place to start.Let's go over some of their basics.

  • 5 Secrets of a stress-free host

    Hosting a party doesn't have to mean sweat spots the size of Texas and sky-high stress levels. These five secrets to happy-go-lucky hosting will help you enjoy your party, stress-free.

  • Dinner with your ex: Innocent or inappropriate?

    You know the drill: You have an amicable break-up where you both realize you're actually better as friends. Now you have a really cool guy friend who loves you inside and out (as a friend, of course!). You don't have to worry about pulling your hair back to cover your grays when you see him because

  • Wanted: Scary recipes

    I'm trying to decide what to cook for Halloween. I want the menu to be both spooky and delicious which is not the easiest combination. I have some preliminary ideas, but could do better. What spooky concoctions are you cooking up this Halloween? I would love to hear your suggestions! Here's my worki