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Cheese balls are back. How to make this classic party dish cool again

By VIVIAN HOWARD
Dec 29, 2025 11:45 am - The cheese ball is a cliché. And like the pig in a blanket and the baked potato, the cheese ball is so cliched it has actually become cool. Socially acceptable or not, when this dish is put out at a party, people hover over it like it’s a crystal ball.
A choose-your-own adventure cocktail, with or without booze

By M. Carrie Allan
Dec 29, 2025 11:45 am - This choose-your-own-adventure drink lets guests customize how much alcohol, if any, they consume. The nonalcoholic base is a sweet-tart mix of apple cider, lemon juice and a spiced pumpkin syrup. Whether they opt for a low-ABV sipper or a boozier punch, guests will end up with a drink that’s bright and seasonal.
Best bets: Local live music to warm up cold winter nights

By Barbara Vitello
Dec 29, 2025 11:39 am - Guitarist Scott Tipping celebrates the release of his second album at The Venue in Aurora, the annual Women’s Jazz Festival returns to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, and Brookfield Zoo offers free admission through Feb. 28.
Anthony Bourdain’s boeuf bourguignon offers the gift of time and patience

By Tim Carman
Dec 29, 2025 11:27 am - Anthony Bourdain’s take on the classic dish of beef braised in red wine requires time, but no complicated ingredients or techniques. The reward: a satisfying, hearty stew in which the tender meat and rich, silken sauce are the stars.
This tomato and feta dip is a hit for a party or a night on the couch

By Aaron Hutcherson
Dec 29, 2025 11:23 am - Savory, tart and sweet tomatoes and punchy feta join forces in this warm dip that has a lovely background note of spice thanks to Calabrian chiles. It works as a festive appetizer or fun meal with a simple salad or roasted vegetables.
The 50 best wines under $50, from a critic who tasted 2,874 this year

By Elin McCoy
Dec 29, 2025 10:32 am - In this list of 50 top buys under $50, Elin McCoy highlights new-to-her wines along with perennial bargains. Her biggest sticker shock was how few Champagnes are still available at this price point, even on sale.
Party-worthy lettuce cups come together at a moment’s notice

By Ellie Krieger
Dec 29, 2025 10:15 am - These crisp lettuce cups filled with maple walnuts, blue cheese and dried cranberries brim with bold contrasting tastes and textures. They make for an elegant and healthful finger food that’s ideal for easy entertaining.
New businesses, fond farewells and historic preservation: A look back at the top stories of 2025 in Talk of the Town

By Dave Heun
Dec 29, 2025 9:57 am - New businesses and developments, historic preservation, museums and a fairy garden were among the top stories in Dave Heun’s Talk of the Town column in 2025.
Fight the virus: 7 home remedies for a sore throat

By Kathleen Felton
Dec 28, 2025 10:23 am - Woke up to a sore, scratchy throat? You may want to blame it on dry air, but it’s usually a sign your body is fighting a viral infection.
Why gray squirrels and black walnuts go together so well

By Mark Speyer, Stillman Nature Center
Dec 28, 2025 3:00 am - For many years, we’ve been finding black walnut bits on the benches surrounding our campfire circle. I know where the walnuts come from and I know gray squirrels are eating them.

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