Whether or not members of your family were spawned by Satan, are mildly annoying or are an absolute joy to be around, there's nothing like the stress of the holidays to amplify their little quirks that just might make you feel like the only gift you hope Santa brings this year is The Return of Your Sanity. But you can hedge off the potential freak-outs by taking responsibility for your chill level by upping your intake of these six therapeutic and naturally calming herbs.

With the holidays in full swing, you’re no doubt going to be cooking up a storm all season long. While jamming out to Bing Crosby Christmas carols and watching the snowflakes fall outside the window, you might lose track of your “pinches” and “teaspoons,” only to find one of your dishes too salty or too spicy. When this happens, don’t despair: You can salvage that potpie, apple crisp or turkey casserole. Here are some tips that chefs use in the kitchen to balance seasoning mistakes.

What’s everyone’s favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner? Most likely a lot of side dish action.. and while you've no doubt got a whole lot going on in terms of planning the creative-yet-traditional menu for your elaborate tablescape, one thing you may want to give a another thought to is the throngs of people who are adopting the gluten-free lifestyle for any number of reasons. If you or one of your guests is sensitive to gluten, you might need to take an extra step in your meal planning.

Americans drink more wine on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. Maybe it's because a couple of glasses take the edge off awkward family interactions, or maybe, as Andre Simon claimed, "wine makes every table more elegant." But don't be mistaken: You won't need expensive bottles to create that elegance. In fact, Slate recently made a case for cheap vino -- a mighty convincing one at that.

If you've ever opened a can of cranberry 'sauce' and dumped it onto a platter for Thanksgiving, you're not alone. Ocean Spray, the cranberry cooperative with more than 600 member growers, reports revenue of more than $1 billion annually, coming from sales based on a single food: Cranberries.

East Coast natives have a fairly skewed perception of the Midwest, one that is filled almost entirely with tumbleweeds and acres of farmland. While the former may represent reality, it doesn’t always parallel the overall community-oriented impression of the Midwest. Most of that farmland is owned by corporations, not families, and their operations are anything but locally focused.

Chef Matt Molloy from the Beacon Hill Bistro on Boston’s historic Charles Street can speak from experience. We caught up with him to get his culinary insights. 

Windows are a whole lot more than just something to look through. They bring in that endorphin-inducing natural light, those simple combinations of glass and wood act as portals to the outside world, and when pulled open, windows can filter refreshing breezes into a stuffy house.

Windows create the perfect semi-transparant separation between you and the outside world. You know you savor that delicious feeling on a dreary day of watching raindrops slide down a window's glass while you snuggle up all warm inside. They create an inviting, cozy home.

Keep those fuzzy feelings around all the time by incorporating (even more!) windows into your home’s décor. Check out these five extremely un-pane-ful ideas to window-ize your decorating.

Just five ingredients are all it takes to create this beautifully festive holiday dessert: Cranberry Pear Pie. (Technically, the pie crust is a sixth ingredient, but once you’ve mastered our Olive Oil Crust, you’ve got that in the bag). Prepared without a traditional lattice topping, this open-faced—and vegan—fruit pie dazzles a crowd with its stunning winter hues and shimmery glazed look. Enjoy with regular or non-dairy whipped cream, a sifter of brandy, and fine holiday company.

How many times have you made a quick stop by the grocery store for a couple of simple items like milk and bread, only to wander out in a daze almost an hour later with an entire basketful of random items, junk food and 2-for-1 deals?

Perhaps you walked in with a mission and a list, only to be dazzled and delighted by the delicious smells in the bakery, shiny towers of fruits and vegetables, free samples of tasty dishes and the incredible deals – well, at least they looked like deals. But supermarkets are employing a wide variety of psychological tricks to encourage you to buy more than you need, which not even the most astute shopper can resist. 

Sometimes organic applesauce hits the spot. It’s simple, tangy, sweet and filled with nutrients (one medium apple counts as 1 cup of fruit, and apples contain soluble fiber and are an awesome source of vitamin C). Sauced organic apples are enjoyable alone (or paired with cinnamon, nutmeg, cranberries, raisins and yogurt; yum!), and can be used in baking as an oil substitute.

We uphold various Thanksgiving holiday traditions every year, from sweet pies and hearty meals to that annual brisk walk taken after the big feast. This year, how about we start a new tradition? It's simple -- pick a nonprofit that celebrates women's leadership or encourages sustainability, and take part in a little holiday charitable giving. The following nonprofits encourage women to obtain and sustain independence, and draw awareness to other important causes (sustainability and health) that affect women around the world.

The surge in bacon as a flavoring in everything from chocolates and soaps to ice cream and soda also brings a return in considering the many reasons to avoid it, from the excess fat and sodium content to the ethical issues in raising and slaughtering pigs. But there's another reason for caution found in the often-overlooked fine print on the label: Nitrites.

Cold feet is not just something that happens before your wedding. It is a literal condition that - at its least - is really annoying and - at its most - can be a sign of a serious condition. For most of us, cold feet just makes us plain unhappy. And if you prefer to not live in wool hiking socks 24/7 (who doesn't love socks and sandals?), then we've got another way. All those warming winter spices combine in this DIY recipe for a foot mask that will get blood and warmth to all the right places the next time your feet just can't seem to get their temperature up. And it's quite a luxurious at-home spa treatment, if we don't say so ourselves. 

Thanksgiving may arguably just be the most important holiday of the year. Done right, it's a happy, heartwarming and totally gourmand celebration of life's luxuries. And what could be a better symbol of simple luxury than a beautifully cooked turkey? A world where so many families can feast like this is a beautiful world indeed.

So you've gone out and bought the perfect free-range, organic turkey to celebrate the joys of life. Why spoil it by drying it out in the oven, or waste a bunch of oil to fry it? If you've got a barbecue, you can smoke that turkey to a succulent, moist, deeply flavorful, absolute masterpiece. Here's the method my mother's used for over ten years, making a perfect bird every time.

This holiday season, treat your guests to a flaky, savory pie crust that’s made with olive oil—no butter required at all. This incredible recipe is from the culinary school Natural Gourmet Institute, where I received my training. It’s been a staple recipe in my kitchen for years, and it will transform your holiday desserts forever. Promise.