A classic holiday cookie, Snickerdoodles get their unmistakable soft, chewy texture and tangy flavor from cream of tartar. The cinnamon sugar topping adds sweetness and a little heat. Refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, with its subtle aromas of lemon and kiwi and notes of savory herbs, perfectly complements these sweet-tart cookies. Fruit flavors make jam thumbprints and Merlot a delicious pair. Merlot is plush, with hints of cherries, plums and oak.

While Thanksgiving dishes have stayed the same at the core, it’s natural that they’ve picked up some changes and influences throughout the years. Think deep-fried or brined turkeys that became popular in the mid-1990s, truffled mashed potatoes and savory bread puddings during the transition to the 21st century, and the use of kale in almost all vegetable dishes in the more recent years.

Cacique, the number-one brand of Hispanic cheeses, chorizos and cremas, wants to give quesos like Queso Fresco, Panela, Oaxaca and Cotija their day in the sun. Just like Mexican cuisine, Hispanic cheeses have great crossover appeal. James Beard-winning restaurateur, MasterChef judge, and proud Mexican-American Chef Aarón Sánchez agrees. "American cooks may not be as familiar with Hispanic cheeses as they are with others at the grocery store," Sánchez says.

One can argue where hummus came from, but this is not something we argue about in Israel. Unsurprisingly, the oldest and most popular hummus places in Israel (such as Khalil in Ramle, Said and Issa in Acre, Lina in Jerusalem) are run by generations of Arab Israelis. In Israel, we smoke the peace pipe over hummus, and if you ask an Israeli where to find the best hummus, most will tell you it’s an Arab joint. 

Most of us are aware of those little labels on our food, but we often don’t understand what they mean. Like any choice, the key is education. To shop in accordance with our values, we must understand what the label stands for and how it’s been verified. And yes — verification matters. Marketing savvy and great design can create convincing packaging and badges that represent a company’s promise, but often they are not based on rigorous standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has some best practices for families to save money, help those who don’t have enough to eat, and conserve resources for future generations. By making a list of weekly meals and necessary ingredients, shoppers will buy less than they would otherwise and keep things fresh, with less waste. Also, checking the pantry and refrigerator before a grocery shopping trip can prevent buying duplicates of things you already have.

Another example is those who are diabetic and try the diet. The Keto diet already requires people to cut out refined sugars and excess carbs—two factors that diabetics are recommended to avoid due the risk of increasing already high blood sugar. Therefore, someone with diabetes may try Keto with the goal of managing their blood sugar levels. Keeping personal goals other than weight loss in mind when making such a drastic change in diet or lifestyle is important. The desire to only follow the Ketogenic diet for rapid weight loss may not be the best reason to try it if there isn’t much weight to lose. 

Pickling has been around some 4,000 years as a way to preserve vegetables. It became popular in 18th century England as a way to preserve food, according to savoringthepast.net, and today is traditionally served with fish and chips or with what is called a ploughman’s lunch, a dish of bread, cheese and onions — part of the English diet for centuries. Today, pickled onions are used all over the world in a variety of dishes.

Travel to Northern Italy's Friuli region, where mountains overlook the Adriatic Sea, its coastline dotted with lagoons and long sandy beaches. Friulano is the predominant wine here because of the ideal growing conditions for this indigenous varietal. This Friulano comes from old vines located on Estate vineyards at 1,050 feet above sea level, with cool nights and warm days, ideal for producing wines with excellent acidity and elegance.

Rich and undeniably decadent, dark chocolate is the ideal final pairing to offer guests. The flavors of coffee and dark chocolate are often fused together as they mingle together.  A bold, rich beer or heavy ale matches dark chocolate well. A tawny port that isn’t too fruity can be a nice complement to coffee flavors while bringing out the dark chocolate elements. Finally, a sweeter bourbon with a smoky finish pairs nicely with the dark chocolate, which in turn brings out the barrel notes of the spirit.