Is All Screw-Top Wine Bad?

Plus, recipes for your holiday dinner menu. Gift Digital All Access Save 37% and gift instantly or schedule your gift announcement! They’ll open YOUR present every day: Digital Membership with access to 30 years’ worth of our reliable recipes, science-backed cooking discoveries, trusted product reviews, and the app. [Gift Digital All Access →]( [START FREE TRIAL]( or [LOG IN]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES ›]( December 22, 2023 [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( What’s New at ATK [Mini screw-top wine bottles]( Is All Screw-Top Wine Bad? With the array of wines on the market,[many of which have screw caps, is the assumption that screw-top wines are bad justified? →]( Does Egg Size Really Matter in Recipes? Whether you have medium, large, or jumbo eggs, [you might need to do a little math ensure your baked goods are perfect. →]( A Note From Our Test Cooks [Oysters on the Half Shell Recipe; Becky Hays's Headshot]( Your Holiday Dinner Menu Becky Hays, Deputy Editor, Cook’s Illustrated Holiday dinners can be magical even when you don’t have endless time to fuss over a complicated menu. Along with hanging mistletoe, lighting lots of candles, and cueing my husband’s Elvis-centric holiday playlist, I opt for dishes that don’t require lots of prep or day-of work but still feel festive and cheery. Here is this year’s lineup: We’ll start by popping some champagne and enjoying [Oysters on the Half Shell](. There’s simply no fancier—or easier—way to kick off a holiday meal, and you can even have the bivalves shipped directly to your door. (Try [Bon Secour Fisheries]( [Eastern]; [Real Oyster Cult]( [Eastern, Pacific]; or [Taylor Shellfish Farms]( [Pacific, Kumamoto].) It’s fun to make shucking a family affair: Just gather an [oyster knife]( and a dish towel and fill a deep platter with crushed ice and you’re ready to go. As an oyster purist, all I need as an accompaniment is a spray of lemon juice, but we’ll also serve [Lan Lam]( [Red Wine Vinegar Mignonette Granité]( for those who like something icy, tart, and sparkly. The first time I tasted [Steve Dunn]( [Glazed Boneless Beef Short Ribs]( I decided right then and there that they would be my Christmas Eve centerpiece. The ribs are mostly made ahead, and they’re stunning to behold, with an impossibly glossy, sweet-tart glaze. Of course, the beef itself is supple as can be, with a deeply satisfying flavor. Talk about dazzling. Steve’s [Apple–Celery Root Salad]( will also be on the table. It’s refreshing and bright, just what you’ll want between bites of the rich, fall-apart tender meat. In our house, you can’t serve short ribs without mashed potatoes. I love Lan’s [Fastest, Easiest Mashed Potatoes]( made with Yukon Golds, half-and-half, and a bit of extra butter. For a special meal like this one, I like to run the spuds through a food mill so they’re as silky as possible. My sister and nephew bring the dinner rolls—they’re the best I’ve ever tasted. A very close approximation is [Andrea Geary]( [Fluffy Dinner Rolls](. You can bake them the day before and warm them in the oven at dinnertime. They go fast, so be sure to make a double batch. Although our dinner menu changes yearly, dessert is always the same: My mom brings a giant tray of cookies (mint meltaways, fig and nut rolls, and bourbon balls) and I organize an ice cream sundae bar that includes [Dark Chocolate Fudge Sauce]( a big bowl of freshly whipped cream, and a jar of Luxardo cherries. So easy (thanks, Mom!) and a hit with adults and kiddos alike. I wish you a happy holiday season, full of happiness and good food. Members get every recipe, review, and video. Get instant access to everything from the most trusted cooking experts. [Start your 2-week free trial](. Party-Starting Appetizers [Oysters on the Half Shell →]( [The Right Way to Slice and Serve Cheese (and Why It Matters) →]( [Baked Goat Cheese →]( Holiday-Worthy Mains [Glazed Boneless Beef Short Ribs →]( [Updated Beef Wellington →]( [Beef Tenderloin with Smoky Potatoes and Persillade Relish →]( [For layout only] Fresh Picks for You [Yellow Sheet Cake with Chocolate Frosting →]( [Eggplant Involtini →]( [Deep-Dish Apple Pie →]( [Ready for your easiest-ever holiday? Try Digital All Access. 14,000+ Reliable Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Reviews, Holiday Guide. Get 14 days free and unlock every recipe & cooking discovery! Start Free Trial. Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Apples.]( [A cheese board with an assortment of cheeses, nuts, fruits, and olives.]( From Our Online Cooking School Assembling a Cheese Board Use our guide to cheeses to assemble your best cheese board. [view course]( Try Another Newsletter [How to Bake Newsletter Preview]( [Sign up for How to Bake →]( Your introduction to all things baking, with recipes and how-tos plus exclusive discounts on our baking books. [You Can Make Perfect Eggs Newsletter Preview]( [Sign up for You Can Make Perfect Eggs! →]( In this six-part email series, we dig into the science of eggs and share our failproof recipes. 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