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As far as I’m concerned, celebrations big and small deserve bubbles — which means I’ve been popping quite a few bottles of sparkling wine this holiday season.

I don’t exactly have the means to uncork pricey Champagne and other bottles of high-end sparkling wine on the regular, though. My eyes pretty much always narrow in on the under-$15 shelf when I’m out shopping. Luckily, there are a good number of great finds there, and you don’t need to be a wine tasting expert to find one! There is, however, one I like the very best and grab continuously all season long.

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Little kids love play kitchens, where they can pretend to be just like their parents — chopping, slicing, searing, and baking, with none of the yelling about how they’re about to burn themselves or poke an eye out. You’ve seen them — they’re usually clunky plastic in bright colors that just add to the visual disaster that having children turns your house into. But that wasn’t going to cut it for Reddit user mcsoup88.

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New Year’s Eve is synonymous with hangovers. You go out with your friends, drink a little too much bubbly around midnight, wake up the next morning, and, well, you probably know what a hangover feels like. It’s not fun. So, what’s your hangover cure? Do you reach for a jug of water, some Advil, and a bagel? Or do you have another trick up your sleeve?

If you have kids in the house, there’s a good chance you know about Pedialyte, a drink that is normally associated with helping kids stay hydrated, especially when they’re sick. If you’ve been using the kids’ drink as your own personal hangover cure, you’re not alone, and now the company has FINALLY acknowledged that it’s an “adult” beverage, too.

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I’m known in my friend group as the trendy one: I’ve mixed Mason jar cocktails while wearing dropped-crotch pants (and looked great in them, thank you), and I’ve made homemade apple cider donuts while sporting a Ray Charles-esque undercut hairstyle. But, as cool as I think I am, sometimes I completely miss a trend until it’s on its way out. That’s why, when I heard 2018 was the year of the chicken coop, I was taken aback — especially when I heard about the problem it’s causing for animal shelters across the country.

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Every year we tell you to skip the fancy prix-fixe menus and crowded restaurants in favor of a home-cooked meal on New Year’s Eve. But the same advice rings true for New Year’s Day brunch. Instead of waiting two hours to spend $20 on a plate of French toast, you can host a cozy, festive gathering from the comfort of your own home (in your pajamas, if that’s your thing).

Whether it’s just you and your sweetie or you’re inviting the whole gang over, this easy brunch menu will ensure you start 2019 on a delicious note.

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As we look back on trends of the past year, one that seems to be prevalent, unfortunately, is contaminated food. Many staple foods we enjoy have been subject to their own recalls this year, from romaine lettuce to summer fruits like watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe to millions of pounds of meat including chicken, beef, and turkey. Sadly, the CDC has an additional warning on raw turkey that you should know about.

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A cast iron skillet is a staple in any good cook’s home. Half workhorse and half badge of honor, it’s a classic piece that’s just as home over a campfire as it is in a five-star kitchen. If you’ve just bought or been gifted your first cast iron, congrats!

Before you use it, read through these tips and no one will find out that you’re a rookie.

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Turns out that your favorite go-to canola oil spray for nonstick cooking, like PAM cooking spray, also has some pretty stellar uses outside of the kitchen, too. Don’t believe us? Read ahead for a handful of surprisingly savvy ways to use cooking spray in your bathroom — yes, your bathroom — no skillet or cookie pans necessary.

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The magic of the Instant Pot might get old at some point, but it’s not today. Or tomorrow. Or this year. I honestly doubt I will ever get tired of reading an Instant Pot recipe and finding that it only takes a fraction of the time it would normally take on the stove. You guys — have you SEEN our Instant Pot spaghetti recipe? It only takes 20 minutes to make! That’s magic.

If you’re looking for a few new recipes to try out in 2019, I’ve found some seriously smart ones for you from our favorite bloggers. There are easy chicken dinners, chili for days, and a butternut squash soup that looks like liquid gold.

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We’ve been writing about Trader Joe’s in great detail for many, many years now. But this year, our coverage seemed deeper and more useful than ever. So we decided to round up some of our best stories and lessons from the last 12 months. Whether you’re about to make your first trip to Trader Joe’s or you’ve been a loyal shopper for a long time, this post can be your cheat sheet for everything you’ll need to know for 2019.

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