What beverages are you serving to your family and friends during the holidays? Not sure yet? Well, tune into this episode of Hot Grease to learn about hard cider and the Mason Shaker! Nicole Taylor talks with Ezra Sherman of Eve's Cidery about bottle fermentation, cider and food pairings, and the stigma of cider in the United States. Hear about some different cider varieties, and why cider shares many similarities with wine. Later, Nicole chats with Eric Prum, one of the minds behind the Mason Shaker. Mason Shaker launched a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign where they raised over seventy-thousand dollars! Hear how Eric and his business partner, Josh, came up with the idea for the Mason Shaker bartending in college, and why it's important that the product is made in America. Listen in to hear Eric shout out some of his favorite NYC cocktail spots! This program has been sponsored by White Oak Pastures.

"There's as much difference in ciders as there are in varieties of grape wine." [6:20] -- Ezra Sherman on Hot Grease

"It's been really rewarding to focus on local and American manufacturers because you can really establish some great relationships with some hard-working people." [17:00] -- Eric Prum on Hot Grease

On the final installment of Hot Grease for 2010, Nicole Taylor takes a look at some of her favorite Hot Grease moments from the last year. She is also joined by personal chef Marina Berger (www.marinacooks.com) who stops by to give some interesting advice on entertaining guests for New Years Eve. Tune in to find out the best ways to celebrate the new year and find out what 2011 has in store for Nicole & her show. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. For more information visit www.surryfarms.com

Photo: Marina Berger

On this week's episode of Growing Good, Alessandra Maria Iavarone is joined in the studio by Bowie Barnett-Zunino and Jeff Barnett-Winsby of the Wassaic Project. The Wassaic Project is an artist-in-residency program in Wassaic, New York that focuses on community. Every year, Bowie and Jeff host the Wassaic Project Summer Festival, a free multidisciplinary arts and music festival, on their property. Recently, Bowie and Jeff have a new partner in their project - their 5-month-old daughter! Tune in to hear about the roots of the program, as well as the challenges of balancing parenthood with work. Learn more about the town of Wassaic, and what it's like raising a child in a rural, agricultural town with a population of 200 people. This year's Wassaic Summer Festival takes place August 3rd - 5th; for more information, visit their website. This program has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"We're really trying to support and promote emerging artists, musicians, dancers, filmmakers- and having someone who has already gone through the residency program, we're already really invested in who they are. And we want people to see their work, we want people to understand their work." -- Jeff Barnett-Winsby on Growing Good