Food Editor
Allie has been Lifehacker’s Food Writer since 2021. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Ithaca College in drama and studied at the Institute of Culinary Education to earn her diploma in Pastry and Baking Arts. Allie worked professionally as a private chef for over a decade, honing her craft in New York at places like Balthazar, Bien Cuit, The Chocolate Room, Billy’s Bakery, and Whole Foods. She spent evenings as a chef instructor, and also earned a master’s degree at Hunter College for teaching English. Allie’s YouTube channel, Thainybites, features recipes and baking tricks. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
MORE BY Allie
I Tried the Trtl Travel Pillow and Won’t Travel Again Without It
Your exhausting days of head-bobbing, half-awake flight naps are finally over.
The Best Gifts for Foodies Who Love to Cook (and Those Who Just Love to Eat)
Whether your loved one is a professional chef or just someone who enjoys YouTube cooking tutorials and food memes, there's a gift here for them.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 Is the Best Blender I've Ever Tried
Making nut butter in a blender never worked for me—until now.
My Best Advice for Shipping Holiday Cookies Without Ruining Them
Ship Christmas cookies so they arrive on time and in pristine condition using these helpful tips.
11 Great Cookbooks for Everyone on Your Gift List
From beginner bakers to veggie lovers, here are the perfect cookbooks to gift this year.
I’m Always Cold, and the Dreo Solaris Is the Best Space Heater I’ve Tried
It creates soft, ambient warmth for large spaces with barely a peep.
'Chaat' Is the Cookbook to Warm Your Winter Bones
Warm up your winter kitchen with the tasty snacks and robust street food of India.
My Favorite Food Gifts (That Aren’t Kitchen Tools)
A present they can eat is instantly useful.
I’m a Food Writer, and These Are My Favorite Extended Cyber Monday Deals on Kitchen Appliances
Treat yourself to some bright and shiny new tools for the holidays.
How to Use Fabric Gift Wrap (and Why You Should)
There's really no downside, unless you enjoy paper cuts and cleaning up discarded shreds of paper.
Use Your Thanksgiving Leftovers to Make These Stuffed Mushrooms
Any mash-up of carbs, veggies, or meats makes for a delectable stuffed mushroom.
'Batch Cocktails' Is the Book You Need for Your Next Holiday Party
Batching cocktails is the best advice I can give for party hosts. This book will show you the way.
These Are the Best Coffeemakers and Accessories to Buy As Gifts During Black Friday
Blessed is the gift of caffeine, and everything you use to deliver it.
Impress Your Guests With a Stuffing Bundt Cake
This stuffing is easy to make and can double as an edible centerpiece.
Roasting the Turkey in an Oven Bag Is Helpful, Actually
Despite appearances, you can still get crispy skin and avoid a horrendous clean-up.
My Top Picks for the Best Black Friday Deals on Air Fryers
The air fryer makes crispier snacks faster, and right now you can get one for much less.
For the Most Indulgent Stuffing, I Turn to the Croissant
This French pastry's flaky, buttery layers were practically made for this lovable American side dish.
The Best Black Friday Deals on KitchenAid Stand Mixers
It's time to treat someone (or yourself) to one of these KitchenAid stand mixers.
Trussing a Turkey Is Actually Pretty Easy (If You Must)
In three simple steps, you can make quite the photogenic roast.
These Vitamix Blenders Are on Sale for (Early) Black Friday
Vitamix blenders are actually on sale right now, and it's good, folks.