Where do you draw the line when it comes to fancying-up comfort foods? Sometimes iconic dishes benefit from a studied take, careful technique, and some high-quality ingredients. But what about, oh, I don't know ... 7-layer dip? More

Cheese and crackers is always on the party potluck signup sheet; a boring ol' standby. Try the retro ball-shaped snack instead, and fancy it up with combos like cheddar and pecans, Stilton and walnuts, and chevre and almonds. They're fun to serve as bite-sized canapes or as a single large ball surrounded by crackers and crudite. Plus, they always make the vegetarians happy. More

Photograph courtesy of Cheeses of France Cheese plates are a great, easy thing to serve at a dinner party. How hard is it to unwrap a bunch of cheeses and throw them on a wooden board? They work well before or after the meal, and allow the host to impress guests with some funky, novel flavors. While picking out cheeses can be overwhelming, try picking out four to five that work well together. Here are some suggestions for constructing an amazing cheese plate. Something Old, Something New The old adage applies well to cheese plates. It works best if you vary them by texture, age, milk type, and manufacturer. For instance, your plate could include a soft fresh goat... More