All Arts & Culture
Little Hobbit wins big at Christmas box officeThe final installment in Peter Jackson's film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkein's novels, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" easily out-earned a host of other strong films over Christmas weekend.
Sweet potato cake with molasses buttercreamRoasted sweet potatoes are transformed from side dish to a layer cake worthy of any special occasion. Molasses buttercream and chopped almonds and cinnamon to garnish put this dessert over the top.
Easy crockpot beans with hamLeftover Christmas ham can be used for more than just sandwiches. Make a simple and savory dinner with white beans, veggies, and ham in the crockpot.
Why one mom of superheroes supports Brad and Angelina's embrace of 'John'Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt support Shiloh's choice to be known as 'John,' and as a mom of two Batmans, a Buzz Lightyear, and a Thomas the Tank Engine, I get it.
'The Interview' is a political comedy that's neither political nor funnyIf you think watching gross-out bromance 'The Interview' is your patriotic duty, go right ahead. If you want laughs or savvy, look elsewhere.
Cooking the basics: Homemade marinara sauceMarinara sauce, a classic Italian red sauce with garlic, onions, herbs, and not much more, is easy and weeknight-quick to make.聽
'Inherent Vice': One of the more complicated films of the holiday seasonEven 'Vice' star Joaquin Phoenix says, 'It's too hard' when asked to summarize the movie. As for the Oscar race, is the movie getting crowded out?
Chinese food leftovers? Make duck fried riceChinese food is never bad leftover, but jazz it up by making Peking duck and cold rice into delicious duck fried rice. Just a few veggies and a quick turn in the skillet, and you'll have a new dinner in minutes.
A handmade table to set for Christmas dinnerOne man remembers the time when he built a dinner table from scratch as a surprise for his parents on Christmas Day.
Verbal EnergyIn other words of the year: shirtfront?The Australian premier鈥檚 tough talk against Putin has snagged a 鈥榳ord of the year鈥� designation, but what was Tony Abbott really trying to say?
'Home Alone': Why it's a holiday classicYes, the slapstick antics of actors Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are great. But the story's deeper message about family gives the movie its heart.
Eggnog pound cakeCan't get enough eggnog this time of year? Bake it into a cake! Pound cake serves as a versatile base and makes this festive treat easy to transport.聽
Protests and prayers after another shooting: Will Christmas Eve be peaceful?Christmas Eve could offer a much-needed pause for reflection, but some are choosing protests over prayers for peace.
Diamond-edged, melt-in-your-mouth butter cookiesGive simple butter cookies some holiday sparkle by using red or green sugar. These cookies are easy to prep ahead of time and freeze until you need to bake them.
'Into the Woods,' starring Meryl Streep, stays true to stage versionThis movie musical never degenerates into a false wholesomeness and the large cast is for the most part up to the task, with actors James Corden, Emily Blunt, and Meryl Streep in particular turning in great performances.
'Unbroken': Angelina Jolie's direction is too conventional for such a harrowing storyThe story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic athlete who is imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp during World War II, is inspirational. But it would have been even more so without making Zamperini an almost saintlike figure.
Chipotle pot roast with onions and sweet potatoesBeef pot roast, a winter comfort-food stalwart, gets livened聽up with sweet potatoes, onions, and smoky, spicy chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.聽
The relentless search for snow on ChristmasA mom misses the frosty holidays of her youth and covers the miles, and the bed of her truck, to make snowy memories for her own sons.
'American Sniper' as taut as anything Clint Eastwood has ever directedBradley Cooper delivers a commendable performance as Chris Kyle, the most accomplished sniper in US military history, but the movie doesn't plumb Kyle's psychological state as much as it does the acuity of Kyle's marksmanship.
'Big Eyes' doesn't probe allure of the artWhen Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) finally challenges her husband Walter (Christoph Waltz), who claimed to have created her artwork, you feel like cheering, but the movie doesn't explore how art this banal captures us.
