We are moving into holiday season. That means that you may be going to parties, and you may need a small gift. There also may be extra invitations to the homes of friends for dinner or brunch.

Rose, jasmine, honeysuckle, lavender -- are pure romance. And lemon verbena, that wonderfully aromatic herb with slender green leaves, may be the most romantic of them all. Its captivating perfume is ...

Cutting a slit in a fresh chile without splitting it open infuses this lemony syrup with a little heat. If you want a really spicy syrup, you can split the whole chile in half or slice it. Scrub the ...

Making simple syrup is ridiculously easy — boil sugar and water — but most cocktail formulas call for only a spoonful. Do I really want to wash a pot just to have a splash of plain liquefied sugar? I ...