Holidays

Film critic Alonso Duralde recommends holiday movies: “See You Next Christmas,” “Better Watch Out, “1985,” and “Christmas, Again.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

from Good Food

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris revisits her classic Kwanzaa cookbook

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

from Good Food

Bar cookies are easy to whip up for a crowd. Simply make the base, top it, pop the pan in the oven, and slice the bars to serve. The lemon bar is the queen of this type of pastry.

Sweeten your holiday with these bar cookies

Bar cookies are easy to whip up for a crowd. Simply make the base, top it, pop the pan in the oven, and slice the bars to serve. The lemon bar is the queen of this type of pastry.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A red tide of Santas swept Koreatown and North Hollywood for LA’s annual SantaCon — a combo of performance art, pub crawl, and Christmas.

‘Everyone has a little Santa in them’ at annual SantaCon

A red tide of Santas swept Koreatown and North Hollywood for LA’s annual SantaCon — a combo of performance art, pub crawl, and Christmas.

from KCRW Features

Gifting a holiday cookie box to loved ones? Consider adding spice, vibrant colors, and a bit of booze to your selection of treats.

Putting together the ultimate holiday cookie box? Here’s your guide

Gifting a holiday cookie box to loved ones? Consider adding spice, vibrant colors, and a bit of booze to your selection of treats.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Films are baked into the fabric of Press Play, so we’re going to pass the microphone around the staff.

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ ‘Die Hard’: Press Play staff holiday film picks

Films are baked into the fabric of Press Play, so we’re going to pass the microphone around the staff.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Food scholar Darra Goldstein traces the lineage of early fermented beverages, which were offered to deities and used in rituals.

The origins of toasting and a recipe for aged eggnog

Food scholar Darra Goldstein traces the lineage of early fermented beverages, which were offered to deities and used in rituals.

from Good Food

Sam Sanders shares his approach to a stress-free holiday; Madeleine Brand reveals the secret for a successful office party.

Best and worst holiday traditions: Sam Sanders, Madeleine Brand

Sam Sanders shares his approach to a stress-free holiday; Madeleine Brand reveals the secret for a successful office party.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Long Beach International Tamales Festival is December 14. How the event came to be is one of triumph, commitment, and never quitting.

What makes a good tamale? Festival honors cultural cuisine

The Long Beach International Tamales Festival is December 14. How the event came to be is one of triumph, commitment, and never quitting.

from KCRW Features

Hanukkah foods often focus on frying, so latkes are at the center of the table. But when it comes to the sweet side of things, jelly donuts or “sufganiyot” are a must-eat.

Sweet side of Hanukkah table: Jelly donuts are essential

Hanukkah foods often focus on frying, so latkes are at the center of the table. But when it comes to the sweet side of things, jelly donuts or “sufganiyot” are a must-eat.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

We’ve all got them: holiday memories that make us laugh, cry, or even cringe. Share your story with KCRW.

Tell KCRW: What are your unforgettable holiday memories?

We’ve all got them: holiday memories that make us laugh, cry, or even cringe. Share your story with KCRW.

from KCRW Features

Celia Sack of Omnivore Books reveals her favorite cookbooks of the year for everyone on your list.

The best cookbooks of 2024, according to Celia Sack

Celia Sack of Omnivore Books reveals her favorite cookbooks of the year for everyone on your list.

from Good Food

The best cookbooks contain stories of cultural and historical importance. Here are Evan Kleiman’s recommendations this year.

Cookbooks gift guide: ‘Mayylu!,’ ‘Zaatari,’ and more

The best cookbooks contain stories of cultural and historical importance. Here are Evan Kleiman’s recommendations this year.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend more this holiday season compared to last year, upwards of $900 per person on gifts, food, and decorations

Despite inflation, Americans are spending more this holiday season

The National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend more this holiday season compared to last year, upwards of $900 per person on gifts, food, and decorations

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Skilled action-comedy director Jake Kasdan adds “Holiday” to his genre oeuvre via his new film “Red One.”

Jake Kasdan on his new Christmas-action-comedy ‘Red One’

Skilled action-comedy director Jake Kasdan adds “Holiday” to his genre oeuvre via his new film “Red One.”

from The Treatment

The Thanksgiving table often includes rich dishes with soft textures. The next day, some crunch with a nice acidic dressing will be a welcome relief.

Post-Thanksgiving: Time for crunchy salad!

The Thanksgiving table often includes rich dishes with soft textures. The next day, some crunch with a nice acidic dressing will be a welcome relief.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

KCRW collected a list of volunteer opportunities across the Los Angeles area for those who’d like to offer a helping hand this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving in LA: Where to give back this turkey season

KCRW collected a list of volunteer opportunities across the Los Angeles area for those who’d like to offer a helping hand this Thanksgiving.

from KCRW Features

Enjoy a few glorious variations on a classic dish — the beloved mac and cheese.

3 perfect mac 'n cheese recipes for Thanksgiving

Enjoy a few glorious variations on a classic dish — the beloved mac and cheese.

from Good Food

From vegan hasselback potatoes and colcannon to kung pao sweet potatoes and sweet potato biscuits, we've got tons of terrific ways to use tubers this Thanksgiving.

22 potato and sweet potato recipes for Thanksgiving

From vegan hasselback potatoes and colcannon to kung pao sweet potatoes and sweet potato biscuits, we've got tons of terrific ways to use tubers this Thanksgiving.

from Good Food