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TABLE Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to Pasta

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Stanley Tucci Inspired Penne all’ Arrabbiata sits in a green ceramic bowl with two slices of french bread off to the right.

AT TABLE, our motto may as well be “Italians do it better.” We love Italian food, Italian wines, Italian vacations, and Italian people. One of the best Italian inventions is pasta, the versatile, delicious, and forever-relevant dish that can be an easy weeknight meal or a gourmet banquet. Like Italy itself, pasta is complex, ancient, and multifaceted, but also deeply enjoyable and satisfying. We have quite the lineup of pasta recipes, and in this ultimate guide to pasta, you’ve got ‘em all.

If there’s one bit of pasta wisdom we can impart on you, though, it’s learn to make your own. Maybe you won’t end up with some Julia Child-esque European fantasy where you fall in love with food and the simple life, but realizing how easy it is to make something you typically buy at the store changes your relationship to eating. With that said, the ultimate guide to pasta gives you the sauces, shapes, and modifications you need for pasta progress across-the-board. Buon appetito!

TABLE Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to Pasta

Stanley Tucci’s Travel Recipes

Some of our (and your) favorite pasta recipes come from our series inspired by Stanley Tucci’s culinary adventures in Searching for Italy. Tucci found himself asking questions many of us have asked: How can food help me connect with where I come from and who I am?

Stanley Tucci Inspired Cacio e Pepe

A plate of cacio e pepe on a green background

This was one of our most popular pasta recipes of 2024—and it’s easy to see why. Cacio e Pepe requires technical mastery to cook, but once you do it a few times, you get the rhythm and proportions of cheese sauce down.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Spaghetti Alla Carbonara

Spaghetti alla carbonara on a green background

Americans have turned Carbonara into a creamy pasta dish, but that was not its original intention. We’ve gone back to basics with real, authentic Carbonara. Guanciale, pork jowl, is part of what gives it its full-bodied flavor.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Tagliatelle al Ragù

A Stanley-Tucci inspired plate of Tagliatelle al ragu

The defining feature of ragù sauce is the tender, slow-cooked meat in it. Malleable, rich Tagliatelle is the perfect pasta to soak up the sauce in our recipe inspired by the Italian chefs that Tucci visited in Searching for Italy.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Spaghetti alla Nerano

A bowl of Stanley Tucci Inspired Spaghetti alla Nerano sits next to two glasses of white wine.

This Spaghetti alla Nerano draws inspiration from southern Italian island cuisine, where spaghetti dotted with fresh zucchini slices along with a glass of refreshing white wine is an ideal dinner.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Bucatini all’Amatriciana

A Stanley Tucci Inspired Bucatini all' Amatriciana sits in a blue bowl with four glasses of wine placed behind the pasta.

Bucatini is one of the best sauce-absorption pasta shapes. Its tiny hollow center allows sauce to get inside of it, where spaghetti or linguine just get soaked in it. Velvety sauces like Carbonara or this Amatriciana really get to shine when bucatini is the vehicle.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Penne all’ Arrabbiata

Stanley Tucci Inspired Penne all’ Arrabbiata sits in a green ceramic bowl with two slices of french bread off to the right.

Arrabbiata means “angry” in Italian, but the only thing you’ll be angry about in this pasta dish is if you can’t have seconds. It gets its name from the abundance of spices in it that give it a harsh, red color but a delicious taste.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Pasta alla Norma

Stanley Tucci Inspired Pasta alla Norma sits in a bowl to the right with two glasses of red wine off to the back left.

Lightly fried eggplant combines with this al dente pasta dish for a well-rounded combination. We recommend pairing this pasta with a Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a dry Sicilian red, or a fruit-forward Etna Rosso. 

Stanley Tucci Inspired Maria Rosa Tomato Sauce

A plate of bright red tomato sauce on a verdant green background

Tucci’s mother became good friends with one of his Italian childhood friends’ Mirca’s mother, Maria Rosa. This shows that one of the best ways to get an Italian recipe is to find something word-of-mouth from somebody in your life. But if you’re not lucky enough to have an Italian neighbor, try this sauce out.

Stanley Tucci Inspired Rigatoni with Salsiccia alla Maria Rosa

A plate of rigatoni with tomato sauce, inspired by Stanley Tucci

Use the Maria Rosa sauce you make above for this Rigatoni with Salsiccia. Rigatoni is a big, thick pasta shape that works nicely with a thick sauce like the Maria Rosa sauce or something like Amatriciana.

Pasta Tips from Victoria Sande

While Tucci is a celebrity, sometimes it’s not celebrities, but real people in your community who have the best culinary tips. We asked Victoria Sande, an Uruguayan-born Italian matriarch just outside of our home city of Pittsburgh, for her pasta and sauce recipes to get these techniques down for your own home kitchen.

Spicy Chicken Sauce

A spicy chicken sauce pasta dish homemade by Victoria Sande in a dark bowl surrounded by ingredients.

Don’t be a chicken! Victoria says she can’t believe anyone is intimidated by making pasta. For her, pasta is like fast food. This spicy chicken sauce goes great with any pasta shape, and one of the best things about homemaking pasta is that you get to make whatever shape you want.

Creamy Pesto Sauce

A dish of creamy pesto sauce pasta in a black bowl beside parmesan cheese made by Victoria Sande.

Pesto is truly the GOAT of pasta sauces, in my opinion. When it’s good, it’s great, and homemaking it makes it fresher, with more of the herbaceous spice of basil coming out on the palate. This creamy pesto sauce is a heavier version that makes for a good aperitivo before a bigger meal, but you can also definitely eat it on its own.

Hugo’s Favorite Marinara Sauce

A dish of Hugo's Favorite Marinara Sauce pasta in a black bowl made by Victoria Sande.

Pasta with marinara sauce is one of the easiest Italian dishes to master.  Hint: The garlic is an integral part of marinara sauce. Otherwise, you’re just getting tomato slop. If you learn nothing else from this ultimate guide to pasta, let it just be that a little onions and garlic go a long way to turning something boring and bland into something scrumptious.

Fettuccine Alfredo 

A black dish filled with Fettucine Aldredo made by Victoria Sande.

The food snobs reading may cry out in horror that a Fettuccine Alfredo recipe is included here. But this pasta meal is actually Italian, from a Roman restauranteur trying to make an easily digestible meal for his wife’s postpartum sickness. So, take that, Alfredo haters. Don’t you feel bad that you derided it now? Just kidding. But it’s a good dish to know how to make!

Italian Sausage Sauce

A black bowl of pasta filled with Sausage Sauce made by Victoria Sande.

Can only six ingredients make an amazing, delicious pasta? With Victoria’s Italian Sausage Sauce, you can impress friends and family with a world-class pasta dinner. Gourmet doesn’t have to mean overly complicated.

Italian White Sauce 

Three mini black bowls filled with pasta coated in Victoria Sande's White Sauce.

Who says red sauce needs to be the star of the show? If you want a creamy texture, a white sauce will be better than red sauce, and the addition of white wine or lemon can make a white sauce a little bit airier and zestier.

Pasta Galore

Beyond consulting experts near and far, we’ve also just made a lot of pasta ourselves and collected recipes from chefs and cookbooks we like. If you’re looking for some relatively easy, inventive weeknight meals, these pastas can class up any table. Pasta is also a great vehicle for those of us that love presentation through sauce and garnish, so feel free to have some fun with these recipes!

Lemon Spaghettini with Olives and Anchovies

a full plate of Lemon Spaghettini with Olives and Anchovies lying on a table

Spaghettini is a more delicate version of the spaghetti noodles you know and love. We infused our own olive oil for this recipe, which is a fun project to enhance your seasoning game, but you can also make it with regular, extra virgin olive oil. Whatever you do, just don’t cheap out on olive oil.

Girasole’s Spinach Spaghetti

A spinach pasta dish with corn and tomatoes in a blue pasta dish

Just like the time the U.S. government declared pizza a vegetable, delighting kids everywhere with a new piece of ammunition to wield against eating real veggies, it turns out you can turn pasta into a vegetable. Chef Jennifer Girasole’s Spinach Spaghetti is a beautiful green plate that makes eating spinach into something decadent.

Cavatelli Recipe with Wurst

Revol Dinnerware Set with Earthy Palette: Cavatelli Salsiccia and Polish Wurst Meal

Here’s a break from Italy! We head north of the Alps for this recipe for Cavatelli and wurst, a filling combination from chef Rafe Vencio. We prefer smoked wurst with pork and spices like fennel. This pasta bowl also features butternut squash and chicken stock, a perfect winter meal to warm your palate and your soul.

Summer Vegetable Sauté with Ravioli

Three plates of ravioli on a black background

Make the most of farmer’s market bounties with this ravioli recipe. You can pick your favorite ravioli brand to make a healthy, nourishing vegetable sauté that everyone will love.

Bucatini with Squash Blossoms and Guanciale

A plate of bucatini with squash blossom on top of it

Squash blossoms grow most commonly in the Southwest. Pecorino and guanciale keep it classic Italian, and if you don’t have squash blossoms, you can substitute butternut squash or another fragrant legume.

Smoked Clam Carbonara

A pan of smoked clam carbonara with a sprinkling of cheese

Ashley Rodriguez’s cookbook Rooted Kitchen: Seasonal Recipes, Stories, and Ways to Connect to the Natural World was one of our favorite cookbooks of 2024. This Smoked Clam Carbonara is an unconventional way to make Carbonara, but the smoked clams add a new dimension.

Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Green Chile

Plated ricotta gnocchi in a roasted green chile sauce topped with parmesan cheese.

Craving some spice? Green chile brings the bold heat over fresh, creamy Parmesan cheese. Gnocchi is an often-overlooked pasta, but it’s another one that’s easy to make yourself to customize the filling to your liking. 

Rainbow Carrot Tortellini

A mom holds two bowls of Rainbow Carrot Tortellini in a white kitchen.

Another one of the pasta-vegetable cheat codes, using colorful rainbow carrots in tortellini to add a dash of festivity to the table. This is a perfect recipe for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day—the homemade tortellini are an extra touch of care.

Penne Pasta with Broccolini and Chickpeas

Penne with Broccolini and Chickpeas served in a frying pan and three bowls on a greenish surface with a glass full of dark liquid

This is a vegetarian spin on the classic broccolini with sausage. Broccolini adds a crunch that pairs well with the softness of penne. Penne is a great pasta for vegetable sauté or mixing other ingredients into because of its versatile texture and relative hardiness compared to pastas that go better with sauce.

Easy, Refreshing Summer Pasta Salad 

A summer pasta salad using local ingredients on a white background

When the sun comes back out again and the layers come off, it’s time to ditch the soups and stews and bring out the refreshing salad. This summer pasta salad is portable for picnics.

Lamb Tortellini

A plate of lamb tortellini with red sauce in a pale grey bowl

The culinary team at Italian restaurant Vallozzi’s shared a comfort food staple from their menu: Tortellini with a tender, juicy lamb sauce with red wine and rosemary.

All About the Sauce

Pasta by itself is good, but sauce makes it even better. Along with the sauces above from Victoria Sande and Veda Sankaran’s take on Stanley Tucci’s Maria Rosa sauce, try some of our inventive sauce recipes to take your pasta game to the next level.

Nasturtium Pesto

green nasturtium pesto on crostini with small cucumber slices on a beige tray garnished with arugula, a black background, green floral fabric, tan burlap and fresh garlic with purple skins

This take on pesto uses bitter, peppery nasturtium leaves for a cleaner, sharper pesto that’s perfect for summer picnics. Try it with a pasta salad or over some bucatini noodles with a healthy drizzle of olive oil.

Pesto alla Genovese

An aerial shot of Pesto alla Genovese with fat, flat noodles on a white plate sitting on a woven place mat. Pesto alla Genovese Recipe

Maybe you think “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” about pesto. The word word pesto itself comes from the Genovese word pestâ, which means “to grind basil leaves with other ingredients.” This classic Pesto alla Genovese is just like they do it in Liguria!

Sunday Bolognese Sauce

A meaty pasta dish in a black bowl

Italian tradition is to get together on Sunday for a family meal, but anyone, any day of the week, can appreciate this Bolognese sauce. We served it with Bucatini or Tagliatelle for maximum flavor absorption.

Magical Zucchini Pasta Sauce

a bowl of tortellini pasta with Zucchini Pasta Sauce

This Zucchini pasta sauce is magical because with one fell swoop, complaints about vegetables will disappear. This dish shares some similarities with Tucci’s Spaghetti alla Nerano, but unlike that pasta, the zucchini is mashed into the sauce rather than sliced in the spaghetti.

Crab Pasta with Lemon and Dill White Wine Sauce 

A plate of Crab Pasta with Lemon and Dill for TABLE recipe.

Lemon and white wine sauce pairs excellently with seafood, and our recipe uses all-organic ingredients. Pasta doesn’t have to be heavy—with white sauce and seafood, it can actually be refreshing and light.

Gluten Free and Allergy-Friendly

We know that gluten free pasta isn’t as easily available as the ordinary wheat pasta. But allergy-friendly ingredients are a recent food industry trend, and a welcome one at that. Anything that helps more people enjoy pasta is good in our book!

Green Pea Gluten-Free Pasta with Sunflower Seed Pesto 

Green Pea Pasta with Sunflower Seed Pesto served in a while ceramic plate on a whitish rough surface

Liz Fetchin’s allergy-friendly pasta recipe proves that taking gluten out of pasta doesn’t mean a compromise in quality. It’s now easy to find many varieties of gluten free pasta including lentils, beans, quinoa, and even charcoal based noodles. This one uses pea noodles for their beautiful color.

Chicken Harissa Gluten Free Pasta

A plate of chicken harissa gluten-free pasta on a white background

Harissa adds an extra bit of spice to this chicken pasta sauce recipe. You could even combine these ingredients with the Spicy Chicken Sauce from Victoria Sande above. Pasta options abound!

Story by Emma Riva

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Hot Chocolate Tray

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Hot Chocolate Tray with four cups of hot chocolate. One cup as a chili, one has a cylindrical chocolate bar, one has a spoon, and one has a marshmallow. hot chocolate recipes

Elevate your hot chocolate game and beat the winter blues with a fun activity for the whole family. Whether you prefer flavors of peppermint, caramel, or cayenne, creativity will come alive as you make your own bespoke hot chocolate creations. You can also try our Spiked Hot Chocolate with this recipe, if you want a splash of booze.

What is the History of Hot Chocolate?

Hot chocolate’s origins can be traced back thousands of years to the Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec cultures of Mexico and Central America. The cocoa plant originates in South America, and then the Spanish brought cocoa beans and the tools for making chocolate to Europe in the early 1500s. The drink remained a treat for nobility, but by the 17th century, it spread across Europe for wider consumption. Nowadays, there are hot chocolate recipes all around the world, from Japan to Great Britain. The British way of making it is to mix it with milk instead of water. This creamier version became a luxury in coffeehouses. 

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Hot Chocolate Tray with four cups of hot chocolate. One cup as a chili, one has a cylindrical chocolate bar, one has a spoon, and one has a marshmallow. hot chocolate recipes

Hot Chocolate Tray


  • Author: Selina Progar

Description

Indulge in a full tray!


Ingredients

Scale

For the chocolate: 

For the hot chocolate:

For mint:

  • 1 tsp mint extract

For wicked:

  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

For cinnamon:

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

For mocha:

  • 2 packets instant coffee

For caramel:

  • 3 tbsp caramel sauce

For marshmallows:

  • 2 packets gelatin
  • 2 oz cold water
  • 7 oz + 1 tbsp sugar
  • 12 oz corn syrup
  • 3 egg whites


Instructions

For the hot chocolate:

  1. Chop chocolate and place in a large mug.
  2. Bring milk, salt, and brown sugar to a boil and pour over the chocolate.
  3. Let sit for 1 minute and stir.

For marshmallows:

  1. Spray sheet tray with pan spray and line with parchment paper and spray again.
    Bloom gelatin by putting water in a small bowl and sprinkling gelatin powder over water. Set aside.
  2. Boil 7 ounces of sugar, corn syrup, and water to 240 degrees.
  3. Once sugar has reached 230 degrees, whip egg whites on high speed to soft peak and slowly add 1 tablespoon of sugar. Continue to whip until it reaches stiff peaks; it will be opaque white. Do not turn off mixer.
  4. Once the sugar has reached 240 degrees, add the bloomed gelatin and stir to make sure it’s all melted.
  5. As the whip is mixing, pour the sugar syrup down the side of the mixer. Try not to hit the whisk. Whip on high speed for 10 minutes.
  6. Pour onto prepared sheet tray. Place into fridge until set. Cut into desired size with a chef knife that is dipped into a hot water bath.

Story by Lindsay Anne Herring
Recipe by Selina Progar
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce
Chocolate courtesy of Mon Aimee Chocolat

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Our Election Cocktail, The Margin of Error

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A 2024 election-themed cocktail in a highball glass
 
Along with every poll about the 2024 presidential election, you saw the same words: margin of error. What does this mean? It’s a number pollsters use to estimate how wrong their survey results could be. 
 
This also means you need a drink that you can make quickly and that allows for a mistake or miscalculation without ruining your drink. In other words, a cocktail with a large Margin of Error. This easy cocktail mixes the smoky, toasty flavors of whiskey with the sweet citrus and floral honey notes of the elderflower liqueur.

What Were the Closest Presidential Election Races?  

The 2024 Presidential Election was close, confusing, and nerve-wracking, part of the reason we made this cocktail to soothe our souls. But one of the comforting things about history is that it often repeats itself. Throughout history, there have been some real nail-biters of races. 1960 election polls had John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon tied at 47 percent. Kennedy won with only the slimmest of margins. More recently, the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was another extremely contentious race that set the groundwork for the political climate in the early aughts. Bush lost the popular vote but won the electoral vote after the Supreme Court had to settle the election results. 
 
Even way, way back in the day, elections got testy. In 1876, the election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden came down to a single electoral vote, which Hayes won. This is complex, rage-inducing stuff! All the more reason to drown your sorrows in deliciousness. For another political cocktail, try the He Said/She Said cocktail if in fall 2024 you were watching those stats closely to see how they matched up with the candidates’ words. Remember to be a responsible news consumer and use sites like AllSides and Ground News to fact-check information you get about all elections, especially if you’re imbibing while consuming that media…
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A 2024 election-themed cocktail in a highball glass

Our Election Cocktail, The Margin of Error


  • Author: Zack Durkin

Description

Making this cocktail is easier than trying to read the percentages of the election results.


Ingredients

Scale

 


Instructions

  1. Pour ingredients over ice
  2. Stir lightly to combine
  3. Enjoy!

Recipe by Zack Durkin
Photography by Cody Baker

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Your Full Moon Horoscope: December 2024

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A globe with the constellations laid overtop in a white color.

We are finally at the end of two independent cycles: (1) the civil calendar which ends in December, and (2) the successive squares of Jupiter and Saturn. These two are big players in the astrological world, and when they’re duking it out in our skies, we can feel tectonic plates beneath our feet shift and move. It can cause us to question our confidence, our ability to traverse tough terrain, and our capacity for belief in trying times. Mercury is just stationing direct and will trigger this square as it moves forward in Sagittarius – so we can expect elements of (mis)communication to play a role in how this all shakes out.

But after this square, we have a break – at least until summer of 2025, when the final square comes. This square will be in adjacent signs, however, moving from Pisces and Gemini to Aries and Cancer respectively. The energy shifts, and that will be a cause of celebration for Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

Some relief comes to Jupiter from Venus, who is applying to Jupiter by trine from Aquarius. This suggests support comes from others, because Aquarius is one of the zodiac signs in the image of a human (i.e., the water bearer) – being in community is a help to many this month.

Your Full Moon Horoscope: December 2024

Aries

This full Moon brings a powerful opportunity for exploration and discovery, dear Aries, as the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Jupiter light up your houses of communication, travel, and learning. That isn’t to say everything is likely to go smoothly – Mercury is only just now stationing direct, and as it does so, moves toward a square with Saturn and opposition to Jupiter. This indicates the end to a trying period, with a few wrinkles left to iron out. Anticipate some delays while traveling until the new Moon of December 30. This would be a good time to watch your tone and messaging to those who are close to you. If you’ve been waiting to crack open a new book, or to re-connect with your spiritual side, I’d say now’s the time.

Taurus

This is a period for turning something broken into something useful, Taurus. Your ruling planet, Venus, is separating from a tense opposition to Mars, and next contacts Jupiter by gentle trine. Have there been relationship problems, whether romantic or professional? Has something in your home life felt a bit off? I have good news: you’ve been given an opportunity to turn disappointments on their head. The trick is to force nothing, go with the flow, and allow yourself to imagine new possibilities, re-purposing things to meet the needs that exist today. I suspect you will feel this manifesting in the areas of life where your work and home lives meet. One word of warning: throwing money at a problem won’t make it go away.

Gemini

We’re nearly through the woods, steadfast Gemini – this is the very last full Moon where Jupiter and Saturn antagonize each other by square (whilst Jupiter remains in your sign, that is). It’s been a long year, I know. August would’ve been tough for you, and though there ought to have been some meaningful peaks since, I can appreciate that there will have been valleys, too. Because Saturn and Jupiter are placed in Pisces and Gemini respectively, they’ve had wide license to disrupt your professional path, relationships, and even your sense of self. You have grown so much this year, seen so much, and have adapted to meet the tide as it finds you. Smoother days are head, so for this full Moon, my only advice is: enjoy yourself.

Cancer

If things feel a bit slower than normal around this period for you, Cancer, don’t worry about it overmuch – there’s a lot stirring at the periphery. Mercury is ending its retrograde pass in your 6th house, which should help ease any health-related issues you may have been experiencing over the last month or so. Conversely, Mars is now retrograde in your 2nd house of finances and wealth management. This can tempt you to spend beyond your budget, so consider running big or recurring purchases with someone you can trust. Jupiter and Saturn are in square, but this shouldn’t have too big an impact on you yet – this will come more into focus next year, around your birthday. Watch for where you could benefit from more discipline; next summer, you’ll be glad you did.

Leo

There’s been a recent opposition between Venus and Mars, Leo, and it’s possible that that has produced some angst about love gone wrong. Some good news: Venus now makes its application to Jupiter by trine, which suggests that even if romance failed, a deep and fulfilling friendship is possible. If you’re in a relationship already, this configuration can help you and your partner improve your lifestyle, or – if this is in the cards for you – help you in family planning (up to and including conception). Mars will exit your sign soon, so try to make the most of the extra juice that it provides. One thing to keep in mind: Mars is retrograde, so you may be expected to revisit and revise whatever big things you set in motion now.

Virgo

If career or relationship matters have felt like slow-going lately, discerning Virgo, you might be relieved to hear that we’re nearing the end of that period. Jupiter and Saturn have been in tight square for some time, and they will make their last hard aspect this month (or, rather, their next will have moved on to other signs to bother other people!). Mercury has just stationed direct, so this is going to make it a bit easier for you to move forward both personally and professionally. Mercury’s sextile to Venus indicates some rest and relaxation, and simplification in your day-to-day routines, would do you a world of good. Couldn’t come at a better time! Do watch your spending, though; the South Node is almost out of your 2nd house, and your money will go further then.

Libra

This is the start to a creative month for you, Libra. Your ruling planet, Venus, is in your 5th house of creative (and romantic) pursuits. Have some fun. Rare as it is for me to suggest, it might be the time to set some responsibilities aside and surrender to leisure and revelry. The 5th house is also given to physical and romantic intimacy – so why not make the most of this and spice your love life up a bit? This isn’t the kind of Venus placement that weighs down passion with themes of commitment and obligation, but rather, enjoying sensuality for its own sake. Mercury is stationing direct in your 3rd house of communication, so it might also be the right time to write, journal, read, or pick up negotiations if they’ve been on hold.

Scorpio

It appears you’re navigating the wake of some recent conflict, Scorpio. Could be relational, as your ruling planet’s opposition to Venus brings in your 7th house of relationships. Or, it could be professional, given Mars’ placement in your 10th house of career. Whatever the case, it looks like it was a bit of the shock, and both of you are on the retreat. Venus will next make an application to Jupiter by trine, which could help you find some forgiveness with the offended person – but first, you will need to show some contrition, and be prepared to listen. You’ll be happy to know that things ought to be progressing for you financially over the coming weeks, although there may be one or two final ‘hurdles’ to pass over before everything feels calm.

Sagittarius

Alright, Sagittarius, it might be a good idea to brace yourself for the tides coming this full Moon. You and the other mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Pisces) have been weathering a storm for the better part of the year that’s now coming to its final hour. Because of the positioning of Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn, the main areas of life (self, relationships, home, career) are all fair game in terms of where this strain manifests. You likely already know where the theme of disappointment and feeling stuck is strongest. Saturn’s heavy hand will be behind you by this time next month, so forge forward for now and keep expectations realistic – or better yet, wait, because even better odds are just around the corner.

Capricorn

While this isn’t a good time to be signing new agreements or contracts, industrious Capricorn, there certainly are themes of good financial success coming out of this period (and building on what we saw last full Moon). Venus is in your 2nd house of income and wealth, and as Venus rules your 10th house, there’s good reason to believe this shows increase and continued investment in your professional life. If you employ others, Venus’s trine to Jupiter in your 6th shows good things to come from those who work for you. But this is also a good period for you to relax a bit, and let things take a slower pace. The Sun will be moving into your sign soon (happy early birthday!), and things are likely to pick up then.

Aquarius 

Mars is retrograde in your 7th house of relationships, dear Aquarius, and that can stir problems for even the most committed and ‘locked-in’ couples. Venus is in your 1st house and next applies to Jupiter in your 5th house, so themes of reconciliation and joy are ahead. I also wonder if Venus in your 1st house makes this a particularly good season for giving and receiving gifts for you. Aquarius isn’t typically known for its thoughtful gift-giving, so perhaps put a little more effort into it this year, as I suspect that attentiveness will come back to you threefold. But Saturn is still in your 2nd house of finances, so do try to keep your spending under control. This is about thought and consideration, not running the well dry.

Pisces

You’ve been under a bit of strain this year, but the good news – as we’ve been building up to since August’s full Moon – is that after this full Moon in Gemini, the tide finally changes. Saturn has been in your sign for some time, since 2023, and is only a few weeks turned to forward motion. Now, your ruling planet, Jupiter, comes to square Saturn in Pisces for the last time. That is likely to produce feelings of being caught between two positions. Venus offers a helping hand from the 12th house, suggesting that with some quiet repose, reflection, meditation, you can find a sure path forward. Venus rules your 3rd house, so this could also indicate thoughtful help from a neighbor, sibling, or a carefully delivered word to the right person.

Bio

Wade Caves, based in Brooklyn, NY, is an astrological consultant and educator specializing in problem-solving applications of astrology. He teaches astrological divination and astronomy at the School of Traditional Astrology. Wade also publishes his work on world astrology through Skyscript’s In Mundo publishing desk and hosts the World Astrology Summit, a conference dedicated to the advancement of astrology for global problem-solving. Website: wadecaves.com • skyscript.co.uk/inmundo. Email: hello@wadecaves.com.

Story by Wade Caves
Photo by Vedrana Filipović

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Lucky Long Noodles

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A visually appealing dish of long noodles with pieces of lobster, fresh scallions, and other vibrant ingredients arranged on a blue-gray plate.

A New Year tradition in many Asian cultures, eating long noodles is said to bring luck and longevity. Don’t break them prior to boiling. Slurp them up whole. Bask in the glowing flavors of an auspicious dish. And thank Chef Roger Li of Pittsburgh for a delicious way to welcome 2025 and all the good things it will bring.

Why Are These Long Noodles Lucky?

There are a couple of reasons why long noodles are lucky. The length represents a long life. But according to the tradition, the chef can’t cut the noodle strands, because breaking it cancels out the good luck. There’s a whole host of different traditions around it, and as with many culinary legends, no one can really agree on one origin. The most common recipe for long noodles is yi mein, a chewy and spongy Cantonese egg noodle akin to what we used here. Some say the tradition of long noodles for New Year’s dates back as long ago as the Han Dynasty in China. Each country has its own version of it, though.

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A visually appealing dish of long noodles with pieces of lobster, fresh scallions, and other vibrant ingredients arranged on a blue-gray plate.

Lucky Long Noodles


  • Author: Chef Roger Li

Description

A long life with long noodles!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lobster tails
  • 1/2 oz ginger, sliced thin
  • 1/2 oz shallots, sliced thin
  • 1/2 oz garlic, sliced thin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp chicken powder
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 5 oz long egg noodles
  • 1 cup scallion julienne
  • 2 tbsp shaoxing wine
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil


Instructions

  1. In a wok, fry ginger, shallot, garlic in sesame oil.
  2. Deglaze with Shaoxing wine.
  3. Add stock and all other ingredients. Mix well.
  4. Add egg noodles and lobster tail.
  5. Cook until noodles are tender, and lobster is cooked.

Recipe by Chef Roger Li, Umami, Nanban, The Parlor Dim Sum, Allegheny Wine Mixer, Yume Omakase
Photography by Laura Petrilla

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TABLE Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to New Year’s

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A fancy bottle with a deep red Good Luck Sparkling Pomegranate Cosmo on a tray with 2 cocktail glasses, orange slices, an open pomegranate, and lemon slices in front of a blurred Christmas tree.

New Year’s is a holiday of contradictions. There’s the conclusion of one year, the beginning of another. There’s the intense partying and clinking glasses on New Year’s Eve. But then, the next day you have to make begrudging good on the resolution to be healthier as you go into the coming year. How do you line up the right strategies for both popping bottles on New Year’s Eve and a cleanse for Dry January? TABLE has the answers for you with our Ultimate Guide to New Year’s, featuring a variety of drinks, recipes, and strategies to ring in the new year with good times and good intentions.

TABLE Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to New Years

Foods and Recipes to Try

Try These New Years Good Luck Foods from Around the World

Black Eyed Peas and Rice served in a bowl with three forks on the side

There are new year’s dishes from cultures everywhere, and we’ve got a conglomeration of ideas from grapes from Latin America to black eyed peas in the American South (pictured above from Chef Jackie Page). New Year’s can be an exciting time to try out a new tradition, or to look to your family and heritage for a way to celebrate.

Start the New Year with These Beef Recipes

Tender braised beef atop cheesy grits.

Beef is a symbol of strength, prosperity, and good fortune. It’s a perfect and filling New Year’s Eve meal, especially if you’re planning on going to bed a little early and just waking up on January 1. One of those beef recipes and a glass of Cabernet will send you in to a satisfied slumber.

Lucky Long Noodles

A visually appealing dish of long noodles with pieces of lobster, fresh scallions, and other vibrant ingredients arranged on a blue-gray plate.

This recipe from Chef Roger Li comes from the East Asian tradition of longevity noodles for good health and long life. You can enjoy them any time of year, but they’re especially auspicious for the new year.

8 Hors d’Oeuvres Recipes for a Tasty New Year’s Eve Party

Triangle cuts of a phyllo pastry with fresh herbs as garnish in between, on a round plate in the left corner, and a stack of terra cotta colored plates with three gold forks on a wooden surface.

Sometimes you don’t want a big meal. Hors d’oeuvres are a great way to keep the party going without having to go through all the brouhaha of cooking for a big group of guests. An hors d’oeuvre also doesn’t mean skimping on the presentation—smaller dishes actually offer more opportunities for creativity (like the Pear and Goat Cheese bites above).

Healthy Recipes to Stay on Track During the Holidays

A red bowl filled with shaved Brussels sprouts topped with cranberries, almonds and shredded cheese. Small accompanying bowls contain additional Brussels sprouts, shredded cheese and almonds.

Maybe you want to get in on your New Year’s resolution early. These healthy recipes make for a nice New Year’s Day brunch, or even a dinner the night of to get in a strong wellness mindset for the months ahead. Plus, none of these are just boring salads, they’re full-size meals with actual health research behind their ingredients, like this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.  

Drinks to Impress

Pick the Best Champagne to Celebrate New Year’s and Beyond

A set of champagne glasses on a black background

Champagne has become ubiquitous with the good life and decadence, but for one night a year, bars and homes around the world pop open bottles to celebrate a new beginning. But picking the right Champagne, especially for someone who knows their stuff, can be a challenge. Luckily, we’ve compiled recommendations to help. (Note the lovely Rolf Glass stemware in the photo!)

Impress With These Sparkling Wines for Your Hostess Gift

A woman stands in front of a Christmas tree holding a glass of sparkling white wine

So, you don’t want to break the bank with Champagne, but you still want to feel festive. Good news! There are a ton of sparkling wines out there that still make great hostess gifts or festive drinks for the holiday season.

Good Luck Sparkling Pomegranate Cosmo Cocktail

A fancy bottle with a deep red Good Luck Sparkling Pomegranate Cosmo on a tray with 2 cocktail glasses, orange slices, an open pomegranate, and lemon slices in front of a blurred Christmas tree.

This cocktail combines some globally recognized good luck ingredients into one celebratory drink. You can shake this up any time of year, but it’s best for a New Year’s party. Also, the Cosmo is just the best party cocktail. It can be flirty or classy.

Snowbirds

A champagne flute on a black background, topped off with coconut flakes and surrounded by festive decor

The Snowbirds from the bartenders at Fine Wines & Good Spirits blends coconut water, a dash of pineapple juice, and a garnish of coconut flakes over sparkling wine. You can make this with champagne or a sparkling wine of your choice from the above guides—no matter what, just don’t forget the coconut flake garnish that gives it its final touch.

Brown Sugar Cider Manhattan

A brown sugar cider Manhattan, a red drink in a rocks glass rimmed with brown sugar and staged with cinnamon beside it

This satisfying cocktail with a brown sugar rim will warm up even the coldest nights. Evan Williams Black Label gives this drink its smoky character, and you’ll want to be making it all through the winter, even during the January blues.

Cranberry Rosemary Spritz

A rosemary cocktail in a white wine glass, gleaming with bright red cranberry juice and staged on a black background

The Cranberry Rosemary Spritz is a gorgeous, easy-to-make drink that will become the star of the show at any gathering. It proves that a spritz isn’t just a summer cocktail, so if you’re missing Aperol, this one is for you. Perfect for toasting as the ball drops!

And, round the year out with good intentions…

8 Healthy New Years Resolutions

A blank calendar for January, showing the start of the new year

See what our New Year’s resolutions were at TABLE and get some ideas on how to start the year off healthy. We hope this coming year brings you good luck, good food, good drinks, and good company. We wouldn’t want it any other way.

Story by Emma Riva

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TABLE Magazine’s Best Soup Recipes of 2024

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A plate of kale and sweet potato soup with a poached egg

As the certainly interesting year of 2024 comes to a close, there’s nothing more comforting during this transition than a warm bowl of soup. This year, TABLE Magazine readers have embraced the cozy goodness of soup, and we’re excited to share the top 10 most popular soup recipes of the year. From classic comfort foods to innovative twists on traditional soups, these recipes are sure to satisfy your cravings and give you something to look forward to in 2025.

TABLE Magazine’s Best Soup Recipes of 2024

Philadelphia Pepper Pot Stew

Pepper pot stew in a dish on a rustic, wooden table

While we could argue back and forth on the difference between soups and stews, there’s no denying our Philadelphia Pepper Pot Stew came out on top, and for good reason, too. Slow roasted beef shanks and smoked kielbasa mingle with peppers and spices. Needless to say, each spoonful is sure to be full of chunky, nutritious ingredients. 

Mediterranean Stew

A bowl full of a tomato based Mediterranean Stew with carrots, kale, and beans throughout on top of a wooden table beside a golden spoon.

This hearty and flavorful Mediterranean Stew is the comfort food you need for cold winter days. The combination of cannellini beans, carrots, tomatoes, onion, and kale will warm your soul when infused with fresh herbs and spices. So, grab a bowl, curl up by the fire, and let this comforting stew transport you to sunnier days.

Anti-Inflammatory Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup

Two soup bowls filled with orange butternut squash soup topped with shredded leaf garnishes and a spoon.

Not only is this Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup delicious, but it’s great for your body, too. The anti-inflammatory properties of healthy foods like turmeric, fresh vegetables, ginger, and lentils make this soup one for healing your aches and pains. Gather fresh ingredients from your local farmer’s market to take this recipe to the next level. 

Lemon and Fregula Chicken Soup

A bowl of soup with little round noodle balls, greens, chicken, and lemon slices on top sits in a dark teal bowl with a winter citrus salad sitting nearby.

This vibrant, citrusy soup is a testament to Italian cuisine. The unique texture of fregula pasta, toasted to perfection, adds a delightful crunch to every bite. Combined with tender chicken and fresh vegetables, this soup is everything you hope for in a meal. The bright citrus notes from the lemons elevate the dish further, making it a recipe you’ll keep in your back pocket. 

Ada’s Cold Beet Soup with Cucumber, Radishes, and Egg

A bowl of pink soup staged over a black background

This light cold beet soup is a delightful summer dish. Made with tender baby beets and their vibrant greens, the soup is thickened with grated cucumber and radishes. The kefir-buttermilk-yogurt mixture adds a creamy, tangy flavor, while fresh dill and chives provide a burst of herbaceousness. Plus, it is quick to prepare and can be enjoyed fresh or chilled. 

Pea Soup with Fresh Mint & Crème Fraîche

Two green bowls of soup laid on a rustic cutting board and arranged with flowers.

This delightful pea soup is a culinary masterpiece from Chef Aniceto Sousa of Mediterra. It’s a perfect blend of the sweetness of peas balanced by the freshness of mint. The creamy texture and herbaceous notes make it a perfect dish for any season.

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

A bowl of pumpkin soup garnished with sesame seeds on a dark blue ceramic plateThere’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup in the fall or winter, especially when it contains one of the most beloved seasonal ingredients, pumpkin. This Roasted Pumpkin Soup is simply the seasons in a bowl. Think savory pumpkin, sweet potato, onion, and the perfect spices to match. 

Italian Lentil Soup

A brown table with a tray on top featuring a brown dish of Italian Lentil Soup with bread and spices spread around the outside of the bowl.

Lentils have long been a symbol of good fortune in Italian culture. Traditionally served on New Year’s Day, this soup is packed with flavor and nutrients. So, whether you’re seeking good luck or simply a comforting bowl of soup, this Italian lentil recipe is sure to satisfy and help keep a healthy head-start into the New Year. 

Chłodnik (Cold Beet Soup)

A pink chlodnik soup sits in a bowl with a sprig of green garnish against a pink flower wallpaper.

Cooking with beets can be difficult if you don’t know how to use the complex flavors within them. When the temperatures warm up, Chłodnik, chilled summer borscht, hits just right. After an afternoon of effort, the results are afairly thick, sweet, sour, and refreshing bowl perfect for any occasion. 

Kale and Sweet Potato Soup with Pasta and Poached Eggs

A plate of kale and sweet potato soup with a poached egg

Need something hearty for dinner to fill you up? This Kale and Sweet Potato Soup is full of pasta and perfectly poached Eggs so there’s plenty to dig into. Plus, this soup is good for you from top to bottom with fresh veggies, plenty of herbs, and your choice of small, pearl-shaped pasta.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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Seared Filet Mignon with Roasted Maitake Mushrooms & Fennel

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A filet mignon with mushrooms on a plate, displayed by Maribel Lieberman

Fresh herbs not only look elegant as garnishes for this traditional filet mignon, but their flavor enhances it greatly. Sweet fennel and earthy mushrooms round out this satisfying dish. This filet mignon proves that Maribel Lieberman of MarieBelle New York’s culinary talents extend beyond sweets and into the savory realm. Though she is a master chocolatier, her cookbook Mariebelle Entertains covers all types of cooking techniques. This recipe is impressive, luxurious, but not too hard to master with a little bit of care and precision.

What is Filet Mignon?

Mignon means “cute,” in French, and if something is extra-cute, you might call it trop mignon, literally “too cute.” Though steak filets aren’t exactly kitten levels of adorable, the cut of filet mignon is much smaller than an ordinary piece of steak. The term “filet mignon” is generally attributed to American writer O. Henry, who used the term in his 1906 collection of short stories, The Four Million. In France, it usually refers to a pork tenderloin cut. Because it’s so small, it’s one of the most expensive cuts of you can get, hence its association with luxury and wealth. Maribel’s version of it is garnished with many vegetables to round out the dish, since the cut itself is so miniscule.

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A filet mignon with mushrooms on a plate, displayed by Maribel Lieberman

Seared Filet Mignon with Roasted Maitake Mushrooms & Fennel


  • Author: Maribel Lieberman
  • Yield: Serves 6

Description

Sweet fennel and earthy mushrooms round out this satisfying dish.


Ingredients

Scale

For the beef:

  • Six 68 oz filet mignon steaks
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • Leaves of 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the vegetables:

  • 8 oz maitake mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 8 oz oyster mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • Leaves of 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, minced
  • Leaves of 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium bulb fennel, halved, cored, and sliced ¼ inch thick
  • Sprigs of fresh bay leaves and fresh thyme, for garnish


Instructions

  1. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes to 1 hour before you plan to cook them to bring them to room temperature.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with racks in the upper and lower thirds.
  3. Combine the butter, shallot, rosemary, ½ teaspoon salt, and a generous amount of pepper. Mash with a fork to combine. Spread into a ramekin and refrigerate until ready to use.
  4. Meanwhile, for the vegetables, place the mushrooms on a baking sheet with half of the rosemary leaves, thyme leaves, and garlic. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread in a single layer.
  5. On a second baking sheet, toss the fennel with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the remaining rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and spread in a single layer. Roast, rotating the sheets from the front to back and top to bottom halfway through, until the vegetables are browned and tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Leave the oven on.
  6. For the steaks, heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot, at least 2 minutes. Put the steaks on a plate, drizzle with the 2 tablespoons olive oil, and season well with salt and pepper.
  7. Sear the steaks in the pan until browned and crusty then flip and sear the second sides, about 2 minutes per side.
  8. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until the steak is done to your liking, 4 to 6 minutes for rare to medium-rare (depending on the thickness of your steaks).
  9. Remove to a cutting board and let rest for a few minutes.
  10. Top each stead with a knob of the compound butter and serve with the mushrooms and fennel. Garnish with thyme and bay leaf sprigs.

Recipe by Maribel Lieberman
Reprinted with permission from Mariebelle Entertains: Savory and Sweet Recipes for Every Occasion from the Master Chocolatier published by Rizzoli, 2024 
Photography by Mark Roskams

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Potato Boats, a Kid-Friendly Dinner

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Potato boat halves on a yellow patterned platter, filled with various toppings like cheese, ham, tomatoes, asparagus, bell peppers, sour cream, and herbs, ready for serving.

Today’s food fun takes the form of Potato Boats! Hollowed out baked potatoes hold their precious cargo of…whatever fresh or pantry garnishes you have on hand. Set up a loading dock of options for the kids, and let them have some fun!

What are Potato Boats?

This is a fun, kid-friendly recipe where baked russet potatoes are hollowed out. Then, you can let the little ones fill the inside with cheese, meats, veggies, or pantry toppings of their choice. Crispy on the outside and customizable inside, they’re a playful, hands-on meal that turns simple potatoes into creative comfort food.

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Potato boat halves on a yellow patterned platter, filled with various toppings like cheese, ham, tomatoes, asparagus, bell peppers, sour cream, and herbs, ready for serving.

Potato Boats, a Kid-Friendly Dinner


  • Author: Kelly Kinsey

Description

A recipe you can get the kids involved with!


Ingredients

  • Russet potatoes
  • Grated cheddar cheese (or whatever the family’s favorite kind is)
  • Sour cream
  • Chives, parsley, any available herbs
  • Pepperoni, ham, or other meats like shredded chicken
  • Fresh veggies (cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, etc)
  • Toasted nuts
  • Hot sauce or ranch dressing (optional)
  • Salt and Pepper


Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the number of potatoes you desire to make. Bake them at 450 for approximately 45 minutes, until fork tender.
  2. Cool the potatoes completely before slicing in half. Scoop out the majority of the potato. You can reserve this for mashed potatoes, potato soup or use filling as an extra topping!
  3. Top the “potato boats” with the cheese, and bake again on 350, for about 5 minutes. At that point you can top the boots with any favorite pantry ingredients or fresh ingredients you have on hand!

Recipe and Styling by Kelly Kinsey

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Two Refreshing Tequila Cocktails from Maribel Lieberman

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Two tequila cocktails, one red and one green, sit beside each other on a candlelit table

Although tequila cocktails are a recent invention, fermented agave was an ancient and revered drink in pre-Columbian Mexico. Modern tequila comes from a new distillation technique refined by the Spanish that produced agave wine. In the early twentieth century, it was officially renamed tequila. Tequila now combines with cucumber to create this refreshing Cucumber Tequila Cocktail.

The Skinny Margarita is a sour, a family of cocktails that contain liquor, an acidic element (typically a citrus juice like lemon or lime juice), and a sweetener. The first-known published recipe for a tequila sour—the predecessor of the margarita—appeared in barman Charlie Connolly’s book, The World-Famous Cotton Club: 1939 Book of Mixed Drinks.

Picking the Best Tequila 

Both these tequila cocktails call for a “white tequila.” Better known by its Spanish name, Tequila Blanco, this is the purest form of tequila. Tasting Table ranked Mijenta as their number one tequila brand based on taste, so that’s one recommendation to take into consideration when deciding which tequila to use. However, you don’t always need top-shelf tequila as a cocktail ingredient. The other mixing elements will completely overwhelm the fine character of a rare tequila. Consider using Don Julio Blanco or 1800, two bartender favorites, as cocktail mixers.

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Two tequila cocktails, one red and one green, sit beside each other on a candlelit table

Two Refreshing Tequila Cocktails


  • Author: Maribel Lieberman
  • Yield: Serves 1 each 1x

Description

A “skinny margarita” and a cucumber cocktail prove that booze doesn’t have to be too sugar-heavy.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Cucumber Cocktail: 

  • 3 oz freshly squeezed cucumber juice
  • 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 oz white tequila
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup ice, plus more for serving
  • 3 oz sparkling water, such as San Pellegrino, or club soda
  • 1 sprig mint

For the Skinny Margarita:

  • 2 lime wedges
  • Salt for glass rim
  • 1 cup ice, plus more for serving
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 oz white tequila
  • 2 oz club soda


Instructions

For the Cucumber Cocktail:

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the cucumber and lime juices, tequila, sugar, and ice, and shake well.
  2. Strain the mixture into a chilled tumbler filled with ice and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with the mint.

For the Skinny Margarita:

  1. Rub the rim of a rocks glass with 1 lime wedge and dip it in salt. Fill with ice.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, tequila, and ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into the salt-rimmed glass. Top with the club soda. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Recipe by Maribel Lieberman
Reprinted with permission from Mariebelle Entertains: Savory and Sweet Recipes for Every Occasion from the Master Chocolatier published by Rizzoli, 2024 
Photography by Mark Roskams

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