‘By far’ — The other day we saw that the most popular Thanksgiving recipe over on NYT Cooking — “by far” apparently — is Bittman’s Brussels sprouts with garlic. …

When you’d rather graze than feast — I don’t know about you, but if I had to choose snacks over actual meals, I’d more often than not go with snacking because there’s an opportunity to try more things, you’re not pummeled by a big meal, and snacking can be fun. I would not describe tomorrow’s snacking as…

Food can (and should) shape how you vote — In the nearly two years since Heated launched, we’ve built on Mark Bittman’s lifework by addressing inequality in the food system. We’ve also tried to encourage readers to look at our lives through the lens of food: How we grow food. How we treat food and restaurant workers. …

Between the impending election and the Covid upswing, it’s time to eat your feelings — A friend told me last week she celebrated her birthday in part by eating her annual ration of macaroni and cheese, around which she says she has no self-control. Mac’n cheese seems especially fitting for a year as shockingly bad as 2020 has been so far. As if it hasn’t…

Breathe some life into cooking routines — Raise your hand if you’re tired of cooking. …

More putzing than practical — but it’s the pandemic, so why not? — This far into the pandemic, boredom meets inspiration, and power tools are making an appearance in home kitchens. While we’re not seeing any mini-saws multitasking as sourdough bread cutters, the drill is coming into its own. Alton Brown, for example, is using a drill in seasoning his holiday rib roast…

Prime rib roast, pernil, and pot roast with cranberries — Whether you’re in the mood for one of these projects this weekend or you’re thinking about what to serve for Christmas or New Years', all three of Mark’s straightforward recipes deliver what will amount to a special meal. …

9 tries at getting into a holiday spirit — We don’t blame you if you feel like skipping this holiday season. But with more pandemic-related challenges in front of us, perhaps we can turn to holiday dishes and drinks to lift our spirits, especially since we’re stuck primarily at home. Here are a few suggestions. 1. Make some sweet and spicy snacks. Spiced nuts are more…

And more holiday suggestions — On this night before Thanksgiving, even if your holiday is pared down, chances are you’re elbow-deep in some kind of prep. We’re here to help with a quickie recipe guide for the November holiday, plus a few for inspiration as we move into December. We’re thankful for you, our readers…