Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear that travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Travel pros say there is plenty you can do ahead of time to make for a happier and less-stressful...

In the era of social media, online dating and Netflix and chill there are few pleasures as tactile and satisfying as entertaining. Whether it’s a couple of friends and a bottle of wine or a couple dozen and a homemade antipasto bar, there is a world of face-to-face fun out there just waiting to get...

Pie crust looks like it should be the easy part of making a homemade pie. All you need to create a flaky foundation for your favorite filling is a handful of basic ingredients most home cooks already have on hand: All-purpose flour, a bit of fat to give it texture, salt and a little liquid...

Whet the appetites of your holiday party guests with this grand antipasti platter. The assembly directions and recipes come from San Francisco food stylist Bebe Black Carminito and her new cookbook, “The Curated Board: Inspired Platters & Spreads for Any Occasion” (Abrams, $25). This board curates a selection of antipasti — it means “before the...

Brunch has a special seat at the table: It bridges savory and sweet and breakfast and lunch, and appeases both early birds and late risers. It’s a meal with very few rules, which is especially welcome to cooks as we head into a season filled with tradition and culinary expectations. Want to serve pancakes alongside...