Although this Korean miso stew is a popular dish at any time of year, soups and stews are good ways to stretch the dollar. You can use tougher (and cheaper) cuts of meat, and make use of leftover vegetables and/or rice and pasta. Daenjang chigae, a Korean bean paste stew, is healthy, delicious, and comforting in the cold.

Daenjang Chigae Photo � Naomi Imatome 2009, licensed to About.com

Most Koreans celebrate both the lunar and solar New Year, and it depends on the individual family which is a bigger holiday. Here in the States, both my relatives and my husband's relatives do more of the traditional New Year's rituals on January 1st (solar calendar). We eat rice cake soup (dduk guk), honor our elders with bows to the floor (jae sa), and eat and drink together to celebrate the New Year. Whatever your celebration is, cheers!

Bowing Photo � Naomi Imatome 2009, licensed to About.com

An Iowa town is using garlic salt to de-ice the streets. I want to go there, don't you? And I am wondering if it will stimulate the local restaurant business. Bravo to them for putting the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) to good use.

In my own family, there are Korean-American, Korean-Japanese, Korean-Jewish, Korean-Southern American, and Korean-Chinese households. Whether your holiday is Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year's Day, this is the season of gatherings, out-of-town guests, and lots of food. In our house, we like to keep the holiday season stress-free with homemade goodies and quick but delicious snacks to serve our friends and loved ones when they drop by. Tea and baked goods are always crowd pleasers, but scallion pancakes, fried shrimp, and yogurt soju cocktails are also fun and easy snacks and drinks to serve.

Entertaining Photo � Naomi Imatome 2008, licensed to About.com