Smoke points for oils: http://lifehacker.com/the-best-temperatures-and-uses-for-common-...

How to fry most healthily when using lard: http://lifehacker.com/fry-in-lard-at-high-temperatures-for-healt...

Wrapping Cheese: http://lifehacker.com/the-right-way-to-wrap-cheese-for-maximum-f...

Speed-roasting a whole chicken: http://lifehacker.com/roast-a-whole-chicken-in-half-the-time-wit...

2014 Gin Preview: http://theginisin.com/news/2014-preview/

Tequila cocktails beyond the margarita: http://boozenerds.com/2013/12/29/tequila-transition/

Too much information on sweet vermouth: http://boozenerds.com/2014/01/05/sweet-vermouth/

Infusion class: http://frozentropics.blogspot.com/2014/01/botanical-infusions-ar...

Hot cocoa without powder: http://lifehacker.com/make-instant-hot-cocoa-from-real-chocolate...

Steak cooking tip: start with warm meat? http://lifehacker.com/the-secret-to-perfect-steak-start-with-war...

We experiment a bit with our xmas dinners - while the Thanksgiving menu is well locked-in with the annual turkey and dressing with sides, we don't feel as bound to repeating that for xmas. Last year, we tried goose, but ... well, let's say we didn't instantly adopt it as a tradition. This year, we're going with duck confit:

Duck leg confit with spicy pickled raisins

Brussels Sprouts with chestnuts (not a repeat dish)

Beets with citrus and nuts

Hot rolls

And for dessert, a classically over-complicated Cook's Illustrated French Apple Cake

We hosted good chunks of both sides of our families for this year's Thanksgiving, serving a total of 10 people! I promise that the 78-item week-of to-do list was epic. I will neither confirm nor deny that we used a project management tool to keep it under control.

Turkey and Dressing with Gravy (17 lb turkey)

Cranberry sauce (3 bags worth)

Dinner rolls (1 recipe)

Potato Latkes (~5 lbs potatoes)

Raw kale and brussels sprouts salad (4x recipe)

Steamed romanesco broccoli (1 large head)

Quinoa and butternut squash (1x recipe)

and for dessert...

Elaine's lemon meringue pie (1 pie)

Maurine's pumkin pie (1 pie)

Sharon's pound cake (1 cake)

Cocktail shakers: the easy cobbler vs the boston: http://boozenerds.com/2013/11/03/shaker-showdown-koriko-tins-vs-...

Carrot sweets via Social Kitchen: http://socialkitchenblog.com/2013/11/02/gajar-halwa/

DIY vanilla extract: http://lifehacker.com/make-your-own-vanilla-extract-for-less-mon...

Periodic table of alcohols: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3016436/infographic-of-the-day/the-p...?

Torta Rogel: http://chickeninacherrysauce.blogspot.com/2012/06/torta-rogel.html