No matter if the weather outside is frightful or delightfully snowy, one winter treat is sure to warm you up in no time. Yes, I'm talking about hot chocolate. There's no comparison for me, and it's a go-to that satisfies even my most intense chocolate cravings. (And that's saying a lot!)

Sure, preparing hot chocolate the old-fashioned or even instant packet-style way works, but sometimes it's fun to step it up a notch by making it spicier, richer, or grown-up friendly. Here, 10 creatively delicious ways to mix up the best mug you've ever tasted ...

A couple of years ago I was making a Christmas playlist to set the mood for tree trimming, cookie baking, and all of the other fun festivities that come along with the season. I started asking around for suggestions as to what to add, and hands down the most frequent and enthusiastic response was The Temptations version of "Silent Night."

Everyone said it would give me chills and be the best version I'd ever heard. I was skeptical (there are a lot of great versions out there), but oh how right there were. It is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, Christmas or otherwise. There's a flawless falsetto and just so much feeling put into it. Truly, I've never heard a better version. Listen and watch a video of them performing it after the jump, and prepare to be wowed.

Whether you're cooking for an intimate party of two or a huge feast for 20, preparing Christmas dinner is undoubtedly an undertaking. But in the end, once you've got the festive meal on the table, your tastebuds are sure to remind you that all that hard work in the kitch was well worth it!

Here, an amazing recipe for easy, delicious Christmas pudding and other ideas for delectable, traditional dishes that only come 'round once a year ...

Sure, we've heard black-eyed peas bring good luck when eaten on New Year's Day, but there's nothing better than a serving of Hoppin' John to kick 2011 off right.

If you're like me, you're a Hoppin' John virgin. The dish, which combines black-eyed peas, rice, green peppers, chopped onion, vinegar, and spices, is the Southern lucky take on good ol' rice and beans. Many use ham hock -- for a saltier taste and some added Southern pizazz.

If you're like me, you may have other things on your mind (like what champagne to drink tomorrow night), and you're are looking for a simple, easy recipe (or a canned alternative) to make your lucky new year's lunch in a flash.

Read on for a Hoppin' John recipe to up your luck for 2011.

Black-eyed peas -- as far as I knew, they were just a singing group. But apparently -- they're a huge New Year's Eve foodie hit, too.

But ... why?

Well it's actually a superstition more common in the South, which may explain why this CT gal is out of the loop. Southern folklore teaches that a "mess o' greens" served with black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring financial success and and good luck.

The tradition dates back to the Civil War when Union soldiers raided the Confederates' on New Year's Eve, leaving them with only black-eyed peas and salted pork. The only thing that kept them alive the next day was their leftover food items, and now -- these foods are considered, yup, lucky. Hmmm, I wonder if black-eyed peas will help me win the Mega Millions ...

Read on for a few black-eyed peas recipes to up your luck for 2011.

If you're like thousands of other women, you're contemplating ideasfor your New Year's Eve Party. And of course, the biggest item on your to-do list: Figure out the menu.

I can forsee your thought process now: It's New Year's Eve! It has to be perfect. I'll need to get a good champagne. Friday's New Year's Eve!  What should I make?! This only happens once every 365 days! IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE!

GET A GRIP. Breathe. Allow us to rescue you.

The good news: You don't need to serve an entire on meal, because if there was ever a holiday focused on the drinks -- it's this one. Our solution? Finger foods.

What's two stories tall, 16 feet wide, and takes 460 hours to build?

That would be the ginormous gingerbread house in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

The place is actually built to code, so every one of the three entrances (front, back, and side) is more than big enough for everyone but Yao Ming to enter through without so much as a knee bend.

Every year the Fairmont does some sort of gingerbread house, and every year it's gotten bigger and bigger. But this time they've outdone themselves. Waaay outdone themselves.

A really outstanding bottle of champagne, like Dom Perignon, will run you about $150 a bottle. But what about those bubblies a couple (or five) tiers down the social strata, say the under $25 range you can get at most liquor stores? Are they even worth buying or would your guests barely know the difference if you popped open a 6-pack?

With New Year's Eve right around the corner, The Stir was determined to find out. We performed our own cheap champagne taste test for the connoisseur on a budget.

We selected 7 champagnes based on popularity and price. We tried to keep it somewhat classy -- with nothing under $9.99. And of course, we wanted you to be able to find these bottles in a crunch. Fear not, you'll have no problem locating these brands at your local liquor store or outlet.