Kendra Vaculin
Associate Food Editor
Originally from the San Francisco East Bay, Kendra has worked in food media (Eater, Food52) and test kitchens (Blue Apron) across New York City since 2014, as a writer, recipe developer, and producer. Since starting at Epi and Bon Appetit, she's started a weekly newsletter about what you should make for dinner tonight, written about cooking with weed, and developed recipes for the kinds of food she loves to eat (weeknight dinners, pantry pasta, party snacks). She likes ice cream more than vegetables, but it's much closer than you'd think.
Recipes & Menus
I’m Leaving Everything From 2020 Behind, Except Meera Sodha’s Bombay Rolls
The cheesy, spicy, bright, and buttery wheels from her latest cookbook are coming with me into the new year.
Expert Advice
The Best Eggnog Has No Eggs in It
I know what you’re thinking, but this almond milk–based “holiday nog” can do it all.
Shopping
I'm Breaking My Cyber Monday Ban for Spicewalla
Catch me stocking up on spices and signature blends (the whole site is 25-percent off!) far away from the day's usual frenzy.
Shopping
The 53 Best Kitchen and Cooking Gifts for 2020
Shop from this list of our favorite tools, books, and specialty condiments and you’ll be the hit of the holiday season.
Recipes & Menus
Extra Can of Cranberry Sauce? Make This Post-Thanksgiving Snack Cake
What else is there to do on Black Friday but shop online and eat cake?
Shopping
The Best Tools for Mashed Potatoes, Whichever Way You Like Them
Smooth and creamy or rustic and chunky? Labor-intensive or quickest-way-to-the-table? Whatever your mashed potato strategy, there’s a perfect tool for the job.
Recipes & Menus
Cranberry-Orange Snacking Cake
This simple snacking cake could be breakfast—or an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s a great way to put any lingering cans of cranberry sauce to good use.
Shopping
The Best Measuring Cups Make Baking a Breeze
We tested nine models of the kitchen staple—in a variety of materials and shapes—to find the very best set on the market.
Thanksgiving
This Easy Coconut Macaroon Crust Will Improve Any Tart
A better press-in crust with none of the crumbly letdown.
Expert Advice
11 Essential Tools to Give Beginner Cooks
Your nephew with an Ikea futon does not need an espresso machine. He needs new sheet pans.
Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving Calls for Mini Pie Pans
Even if your holiday gathering is scaled back this year, you don't have to choose between pumpkin and pecan.
Expert Advice
The Case for Thanksgiving Chicken
Turkey might be traditional, but a chicken is the better bird for your wallet, stress levels, and leftovers game.
Shopping
The Best Handwashing Setup for Your Kitchen, So You Never Confuse Dish Soap and Hand Soap Again
If you’re going to keep hand soap next to the sink, it better be obvious that it’s not for the dishes.
Expert Advice
This Warming Vanilla and Spice Drink Is Going to Get Me Through Winter
It’s definitely not chai, but it makes a great cup all the same.
Holidays Events
A Chicken-for-Thanksgiving Menu
Apathetic turkey-eaters rejoice: With this Thanksgiving menu, you need not settle for the lesser bird.
Shopping
Coasters Make Really Good Gifts, Actually
Nobody wants to buy them for themselves, so add a set or two to your holiday shopping list.
Expert Advice
The Best Colander in Every Style, for All Your Draining Needs
Whether you’re looking for stainless steel, collapsible, or just something pretty, these colanders make cooking pasta and washing produce a breeze.
Recipes & Menus
Miso-Butter Roast Chicken With Acorn Squash Panzanella
This chicken comes with a crispy, craggy bread and squash salad that has all the buttery, herby flavor of classic stuffing.
Shopping
The Best Vessels for Drinking Hot Cocktails Outside
The best thermoses, mugs, and insulated tumblers for alfresco imbibing well into winter.
Expert Advice
For This Year’s Endless Patio Season, You Need a Fire Pit
It’s this winter’s hottest accessory—literally.