Morning Edition asked listeners to write in about a dish they only make during the holiday season. Monica Bencomo of Albuquerque, New Mexico, wrote in to tell us about her favorite holiday dish: menudo, a red chili-based soup.

From caroling to consumption, wassail is an old English tradition for the holiday season. A favorite of Charles Dickens and the subject of many carols, wassail is actually synonymous with drinking "to your health." But figuring out exactly what you are drinking is another matter.

This year saw musicians, athletes and actors launching their own lines of beer, wine and mescal. The list includes the boy band Hanson, which premiered an India pale ale called MMMHop.

When winter arrives, many of us want to eat more. Some experts say it's a vestige of biology: the drive to hoard calories like chipmunks. Others say it's because we have more opportunities to eat — parties, holiday gatherings and other events of the season.

As New York prepares for the annual Coquito Masters tasting contest, see what the fuss is about. This version of eggnog includes a delicious addition: a dollop of coconut.