An introduction to Wichita, Kansas

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; food styling by Maggie Ruggiero Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; food styling by Maggie Ruggiero Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Runner-up This mix requires the most work and added ingredients of any we tested, but it delivers tall, impressive cake layers that you can pass off as homemade. If you come to boxed…

Buying a used item instead of new helps to reduce the environmental toll of the supply chain from making, storing, and shipping a brand-new item to you. To help, we have guides to find the best pre-owned camera gear, furniture, air conditioners, laptops, and kitchen gear at a fraction of the original cost. But in…

The sixth largest island in Greece, and the biggest in the Ionian, Kefalonia has the drama of Corfu’s cliffs, the charm of Ithaca’s myths, and just enough modernity to stay connected — if you choose to be. And, just outside Argostoli in the south, close to the top of a hill crowned by the ruins…

Photo: Sarah Kobos Top pick The Set & Forget cooked foods low and slow to make the best pot roast in our tests, and it has a probe thermometer to cook foods to a set temperature. The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker cooked the best meals in our tests. It…

I have a confession: I love getting the bulk of my holiday shopping done before the Halloween decorations even debut in my neighborhood. It sounds a bit over-the-top, but hear me out: The holiday season is chaotic enough without the added stress of scrambling for last-minute gifts. And though you might be inclined to write…

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter Top pick These perform as effectively as artist-grade pencils twice the price. They lay down vibrant color, blend nicely, and are easy to sharpen. If you’re willing to pay a little more, this set provides three times as many colors and the same great quality. Prismacolor’s Premier Colored Pencils set is our…