❌

Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
↗️

I make Ina Garten's easy potato gratin for my family every Christmas, and it's the best holiday side dish

✇Latest News
By: Anneta Konstantinides
Ina Garten's potato gratin
I make Ina Garten's potato gratin for my family every Christmas.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

  • I make Ina Garten's potato-fennel gratin every Christmas.
  • I first made it when I barely knew how to cook, and the easy recipe was 100% foolproof.
  • The dish is cheesy and comforting and pairs perfectly with any holiday side dish.

There's one "Barefoot Contessa" recipe I make for my family every Christmas, and I think it deserves a spot on everyone's holiday menu.

I originally found Ina Garten's recipe for potato-fennel gratin on the Barefoot Contessa website, but it also appears in her first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook."

"I love to make potato gratin and fennel gratin, so I decided to combine the two," Garten writes in the description. "If you make this in an old French gratin dish, it looks wonderful and can go from the oven to the table with style."

I started making Garten's potato-fennel gratin when I had almost zero cooking skills, so I can attest that it's 100% foolproof. More importantly, it's incredibly comforting — and goes well with nearly everything.

Here's how to make it.

Ina Garten's potato-fennel gratin requires just five main ingredients.
Ingredients for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Garten's potato-fennel gratin also includes heavy cream and Gruyère cheese.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

To make Garten's gratin for four, you'll need:

  • 1 pound russet potatoes (2 large ones)
  • 1 small fennel bulb
  • ½ yellow onion
  • 1½ cups Gruyère cheese
  • 1½ cups plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
The first step is properly cutting the fennel.
Fennel for Ina Garten potato gratin
Garten's recipe was the first time I'd ever cooked with fennel.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I will admit that the first time I made this dish, I had to watch a Martha Stewart YouTube video on how to cut fennel.

But if you're an amateur, there's no need to let this herb intimidate you.
Fennel for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Make sure to thinly slice the fennel bulb.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

First, cut off the stalks as close to the bulb as possible. Then, cut the bulb in half lengthwise.

Remove the cores at the bottom. For Garten's recipe, you'll then thinly slice the bulb halves crosswise — which should make about two cups of fennel.

Pro tip: Don't throw out your stalks and fronds! Stewart recommends using the fronds in salads and saving the stalk to flavor stockpot dishes.

Once that's out of the way, get your onion ready.
Onions for Ina Garten's potato gratin
You'll also want to thinly slice your onion.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

You should thinly slice your yellow onion for this dish.

Peel your potatoes, then slice them crosswise.
Potatoes for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Peel your potatoes before thinly slicing them.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten recommends thinly slicing them by hand or with a mandoline.

You'll also need to grate your Gruyère cheese.
Cheese for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Garten's recipe calls for the Gruyère cheese to be grated.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Preparing Garten's gratin takes under 10 minutes, which is great when you're juggling multiple dishes for a holiday feast.

And don't forget to butter your baking dish!
Buttered pan for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Make sure to butter your baking dish before building the gratin.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

If you're making the gratin for four, Garten recommends using a 9-by-9-by-2-inch baking dish.

Once you're done with your prep, sauté your fennel and onions together.
Onions in a pan for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Sauté your fennel and onions for 10 to 15 minutes.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Per Garten's recipe, you'll want to add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and ½ tablespoon of unsalted butter to a pan.

Then, sauté the fennel and onions on medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until they're tender.

While your stove is working away, add your potatoes to a large bowl with the heavy cream.
Potatoes with cream for Ina Garten's potato gratin
First, add the potatoes and heavy cream to a large bowl.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

You'll use 1 ½ cups of heavy cream for this step.

Then, add 1 cup of the Gruyère cheese, as well as salt and pepper.
Potatoes with cream, cheese, seasoning for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Add your Gruyère cheese, plus salt and pepper.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten recommends adding ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper to the mix.

I really love pepper, so, as you can see, I may have added a touch more.

Next, add your sautéed fennel and onions on top.
Onions and potato mixture for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Don't forget to add your sautéed fennel and onions.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

It's almost time to bake!

To build the gratin, start by pouring your potato mixture into the baking dish.
The potato mixture in a pan for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Smooth your potato mixture in the baking dish.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Gently press down to smooth the potatoes out.

Then, mix the rest of your heavy cream and cheese together and sprinkle on top.
The potato mixture in a pan for Ina Garten's potato gratin
Then, add the rest of your cheese and heavy cream on top.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Remember, you'll want to use 1 tablespoon of cream and ½ cup of Gruyère for this quick step.

After an hour in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, your gratin will be beautifully browned and bubbly — and almost ready to eat.
Ina Garten's potato gratin
Garten's gratin looks beautifully golden-brown when it comes out of the oven.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten recommends letting the gratin sit for 10 minutes before serving it hot.

She also notes that the gratin can be cooked a day ahead and reheated at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, a helpful tip if you want to save some time during the holidays.

Garten's potato-fennel gratin doesn't just look delicious — it tastes incredible, too.
Ina Garten's potato gratin
And it tastes like a creamy, cheesy dream.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Few things in this world are more comforting than potatoes mixed with heavy cream and cheese. Garten's gratin is creamy and satisfying, thanks to the Gruyère, and the potatoes are perfectly cooked. Since the fennel is sautéed, its flavor is mild and sweet rather than overpowering.

But one of the best things about the gratin is how well it goes with everything, making it a great sidekick for any meat or holiday side dish.

I think the potato-fennel gratin is a perfect side for any holiday spread.
Ina Garten's potato gratin on a plate
I can't wait to make Garten's gratin for Christmas again.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

It's so simple to make that you could easily delegate the task to a young budding chef in your family or at least let the kids help you with it in the kitchen. Plus, the gratin is easy to make ahead and reheat before dinner, giving you some much-needed space in the oven for a big holiday menu.

And you can't go wrong with creamy potatoes and cheese, especially during the winter season.

Believe me, you'll all be fighting for seconds.

Read the original article on Business Insider
↗️

I spent $1,500 at a wellness resort with ocean views and a personal guide. It's the only all-inclusive I'd return to.

✇Latest News
By: Rebecca Strong
A lobby area filled with different green and gray seating arrangements, hanging wicker lighting fixtures, and potted plants
I paid $1,500 for a three-night stay at Palmaïa, The House of AïA.

Rebecca Strong

  • I paid $1,500 for a three-night stay at a wellness resort called Palmaïa, The House of AïA.
  • My king suite with an ocean view was super comfortable and I loved the 24-hour room service.
  • I left the resort feeling better than I did when I arrived, so I'd say it was worth the money.

For me, traveling is the ultimate act of self-care. So, when I came across a wellness resort called Palmaïa, The House of AïA, on Hotels.com's Perfect Somewheres list — which highlights some of the top 1% of hotels on the company's app — I booked a trip.

I'd seen some of my favorite influencers raving about their stays at the all-inclusive resort located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, so I had high hopes for my trip to the wellness spot.

As a Hotels.com Platinum One Key member, I got a 36% discount when I booked my trip and paid about $1,500 for a three-night stay.

Here's what my experience was like.

The accommodations were more than comfortable.
A bed with white sheets next to a wall with gray stones and a wall with a green pattern
My king suite had high ceilings, a massive bathroom, and sweeping ocean views.

Rebecca Strong

During my trip, I stayed in a king suite with an ocean view.

I don't tend to sleep well while traveling, but at Palmaïa, I had no trouble getting seven to eight hours of shuteye. The king-size mattress was perfectly firm, and my room always felt cool.

The high ceilings, chic sitting area, exposed-brick wall, and enormous bathroom with plenty of counter space didn't hurt, either.

I loved the 24-hour room service and took full advantage of it.
A bowl of black-bean soup with a yellow topping, herbs, and tomatoes
Late-night black-bean enfrijoladas hit the spot after a long day of travel.

Rebecca Strong

When I arrived at the hotel around midnight, I was excited to learn the resort offered 24-hour room service.

Upon checking in, the receptionist took my order, and a piping-hot dish of black-bean enfrijoladas (a type of enchiladas served with a black-bean sauce) arrived just moments after I was escorted to my room.

Around-the-clock room service also came in handy when I was craving a snack or didn't have time to sit down for breakfast.

The resort's nomadic guide added a personalized touch to my experience.
A lobby area filled with different green and gray seating arrangements, hanging wicker lighting fixtures, and potted plants
My nomadic guide escorted me across the resort when I didn't know how to get to an activity.

Rebecca Strong

During my stay, I was assigned a nomadic guide — a staff member who acts as a personal concierge. Each morning, my guide messaged me with updates about the day's scheduled activities and dinner reservations.

They even escorted me from my room to a class when I didn't know how to get there, replaced my room key when I lost mine, and arranged for a staff member to take me to a convenience store for medicine when I developed a sun rash.

There were tons of food options and nonalcoholic beverages to choose from.
A bowl of fruit including apples, pineapples, strawberries, and blueberries, sitting next to a glass of green juice
I loved the range of plant-based dishes available at the resort.

Rebecca Strong

The resort has four main restaurants, all of which I enjoyed dining at. Many of the creative takes on traditional Mexican dishes were flavorful and nutrient-rich — think waffles infused with matcha and plant-based poke bowls with marinated watermelon "tuna."

Palmaïa offered lots of vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free items. However, as someone who doesn't have any dietary restrictions, I appreciated that I had the option to add barbacoa to my tacos or real Parmesan to my salads.

I also loved that Palmaïa had unique nonalcoholic drinks with the option to add liquor. The restaurants offered wine and cocktails, but alcohol didn't seem to be a central part of the resort's social environment.

The activities were super unique.
Three instructors sit on a mat with an arrangement filled with bowls and candles outdoors
The outdoor cacao ceremony was an experience to remember.

Rebecca Strong

All-inclusive resorts typically offer access to fun activities, but Palmaïa's daily itineraries were truly one-of-a-kind.

I participated in a few activities — including a mindfulness-focused drawing session and a primal-movement class — but my favorite experience was an outdoor cacao ceremony.

This session, inspired by Mayan tradition, involved setting intentions and drinking a ceremonial cacao beverage while listening to live music.

Getting around the grounds was a breeze.
View of a woman in a black outfit riding a bike with palm trees in the foreground
I took full advantage of the on-site bikes.

Rebecca Strong

I've been to resorts that are so sprawling it takes 15 minutes or longer to walk from my room to a restaurant. Luckily, this wasn't the case at Palmaïa — the grounds were super walkable.

Even better, Palmaïa offered complimentary bicycles for guests to use around the property. I used them when I was rushing to scheduled activities or just wanted to feel the breeze on my face.

I never had to fight for a beach or poolside chair.
A hand holds a tan book with text that says "Language of the Body" over a pool, with the writer's legs stretched above the water
I relaxed with a book at the pool.

Rebecca Strong

Palmaïa had no shortage of places to swim or relax with a good book.

There were a few infinity, adults-only, and kid-friendly pools in front of the guest-room buildings. The long stretch of beach in front of the resort also had ample cabanas and lounge chairs.

There were even some cenotes — large natural pools — in a jungle area on the property.

The trip was a tad expensive — but I'd go back in a heartbeat.
A greenhouse filled with palm trees, bonsai, and other plants with a glass roof looking onto trees
I'd definitely return to Palmaïa, The House of AïA.

Rebecca Strong

This trip may have been a splurge, but it was well worth the $1,500. In the past, I've often found myself coming home from all-inclusive getaways feeling worse than when I arrived — maybe due to all the food, alcohol, and sedentary time on the beach.

However, between the engaging activities, the nutrient-dense meals, and the attentive staff catering to my every need, Palmaïa left me feeling refreshed, renewed, and invigorated — and (almost) ready to return to real life.

Read the original article on Business Insider

↗️

American is adding 3 new longer-range routes from New York LaGuardia. They'll fly only once a week because of this rule.

✇Latest News
By: Taylor Rains
American plane at the gate in LaGuardia.
American is adding new routes from LaGuardia using a workaround to the airport's perimeter rule.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

  • American Airlines will launch new longer-haul routes from LaGuardia. They'll only fly once weekly.
  • LaGuardia's new routes are doable thanks to the "perimeter rule" being waived on Saturdays.
  • American and other airlines also use perimeter rule exemptions in Washington, DC.

American Airlines will use a special rule exception to fly longer-than-normal routes out of New York's LaGuardia Airport next year.

An airline spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider on Monday that American will launch new flights to Bozeman and Kalispell in Montana and Calgary in Canada in June 2025 to target leisure travelers.

There is one caveat: The routes will only operate on Saturdays.

This is because, to manage airport capacity, LaGuardia allows flights of only 1,500 miles or fewer from Sunday through Friday. This is known as a "perimeter rule." Longer flights and bigger jets are primarily pushed to the nearby Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy airports.

However, the rule is waived for flights to Denver at all times and for flights operated to all other places on Saturdays. The latter exception gave American the leeway it needed to fly the new Saturday routes to Montana and Canada.

LaGurdia's slot restriction is also waived on Saturdays, meaning American won't need special takeoff and landing permissions for the routes. Cirium data shows all three flights will use a Boeing 737 Max and trek about 2,000 miles.

Operating Saturday-only flights to avoid the perimeter rule at LaGuardia is not new, though airlines have struggled to fill planes because Saturdays are lower-demand days.

Delta Air Lines, for example, cut two Saturday cross-country flights from LaGuardia to Los Angeles and Phoenix in January.

American also uses perimeter exemptions in the US capital

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC, is the only other US airport with a mandated perimeter rule. The restrictions at both airports were established in the 1980s.

Reagan's routes are limited to 1,250 miles. Dulles International Airport, about 30 miles away, gets longer flights.

However, over the past two decades, Congress has increased daily slot allowances to allow for more flights beyond the perimeter on Sunday through Friday.

American and other airlines have taken advantage of the exemptions. Cirium shows American already flies daily to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines also use exemptions to fly daily from Reagan to cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Denver, and Seattle.

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 jet flies past the U.S. Capitol dome as it comes in for a landing at Washington Reagan National airport in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Airlines fly near the Capitol during final approach to Washington National Airport.

CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill, signed in May, approved 10 additional slots that could operate within or beyond Reagan's perimeter. That equates to five more roundtrip flights.

American was awarded one of the slots on Friday, a daily roundtrip to San Antonio starting in March. It will be the only airline operating the flight.

Meanwhile, Delta was awarded a slot pair to Seattle, Alaska was given one to San Diego, Southwest will use one to serve Las Vegas, and United received approval to San Francisco — which will be the airline's second daily flight to the California city.

There is debate over keeping the perimeter rule at Reagan and LaGuardia.

Some advocates say it reduces noise and airport congestion and ensures airlines don't shift slots to abandon regional routes within the perimeter. A near-miss at Reagan in May also sparked concern that more flights could impact runway safety.

Opponents of the rule say it restricts airline networks, gives travelers less choice, raises airfares, and limits economic growth. For lawmakers, eliminating the rule at Reagan would mean more convenient flights into DC from their home states.

Read the original article on Business Insider

↗️

"Mom and Dad aren't here, so trying to pretend everything's the same really…

✇Celebrity News, Exclusives, Photos and Videos
By: Liza Esquibias
"Mom and Dad aren't here, so trying to pretend everything's the same really is not what's in the best interest for everybody," Savannah explained

↗️

Reminder: Donate to win swag in our annual Charity Drive sweepstakes

✇Latest Tech News from Ars Technica
By: Kyle Orland

If you've been too busy fixing your video drivers to take part in this year's Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes, don't worry. You still have time to donate to a good cause and get a chance to win your share of over $4,000 worth of swag (no purchase necessary to win).

In the first week or so of the drive, hundreds of readers have contributed well over $16,000 to either the Electronic Frontier Foundation or Child's Play as part of the charity drive (Child's Play is barely hanging on to a small donation lead at the moment). That's a long way off from 2020's record haul of over $58,000, but there's still plenty of time until the Charity Drive wraps up on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

That doesn't mean you should put your donation off, though. Do yourself and the charities involved a favor and give now while you're thinking about it.

Read full article

Comments

© Kyle Orland

↗️

Nvidia’s CES 2025 keynote: How to watch

✇TechCrunch News
By: Brian Heater

Nvidia will no doubt have the biggest CES 2025. After all, the company has pretty much the biggest everything nowadays. The chip giant is sporting a $3.4+ trillion market cap, due largely to its foundational position in the ongoing AI boom. Companies like OpenAI and Meta have purchased Nvidia processors by the boatload, and that’s […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

❌