Confession: I once baked a birthday cake so ugly my daughter cried. I'm not kidding. So for those of you without culinary arts degrees, here's one way to make the birthday kid feel special and ensure that her cake will be exactly what sh…
I'd completely forgotten how much energy--and energy-boosting drinks--it takes to keep our school year routine running smoothly. Summer wiped away the evidence of our hectic September-May life, but, just like having a newborn again, back…
I'm not a huge cook but I do dabble in cookie-making. Even I know my way around a hand-mixer, and can manage cookie cutters without any major culinary trauma. However if I had mad fondant skills? I would totally be making these vintage t…
Soda, or "pop" if you're from the Midwest, is not something you tend to think of as homemade. Even as one of the great American culinary traditions it tends to be mass produced and super sized, laden with high fructose corn syrup, and ta…
With back to school in full swing, I'm mulling over lunch box ideas to keep things fresh for the next ten months. (Ten!) I recently posted 13 healthier versions of kids' favorite lunchbox snacks and this week I'm sticking with snacks; sp…
Going out for Chinese food was a regular event during my childhood, and we kids always loved it. Chinese restaurants are the great crowd-pleasers of the culinary world, kid-friendly environments where veggies are magically hidden in almo…
Healthy lunchbox snacks seem to be one of the frequent requests from our readers. I'm generally a from-scratch girl, but life--and lunch packing --with two little ones can get hectic. Despite my dedication to all foods homemade, I rely o…
Antonia Lofaso was absolutely captivating on Top Chef. I loved watching her seamlessly perfect results every single episode, and I appreciated her passion for being both a full time chef and full time mother. And now she's offering wisdo…
I must admit, once or twice I have bought boxes of lovely, organic snacks only to find they've gone stale before we've had a chance to get through them. What can I say? My daughter is picky and not every snack is her style. Leave it to E…
The back-to-school fun has begun: cue the sandwich making! I'm the queen of packing school lunches , but even I rely on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My kids love them, they are quick, and an easy way to pack a protein punch. But, …
I wait all summer for peach season to begin and, once it does, there's no stopping me. Fresh peaches, grilled peaches, baked peaches. Plain peaches, sweet peaches, savory peaches. And--the best part--peaches for breakfast, lunch, and din…
While monthly subscription boxes are all the rage now, from beauty products to craft kits, I have to say I still have a thing for the gourmet boxes. With a culinary school grad in the house, we tend to have more kinds of salt than most p…
It's about to start--talk of back-to-school , sweaters, and other signs of fall--but, make no mistake: summer's going strong. The heat is still on and we've got seven refreshing gazpacho recipes to cool you down. It used to be that you c…
As someone who hates mushy fruit with a passion, I wholeheartedly embraced the recent popularity of the pouch. Finally, my kids can eat applesauce without me locking myself in the bathroom. (Because it's all about me, right?) But as it t…
Nothing says summer to me like campfires and s'mores. Although being a city person, I can't say I spend as much time with campfires as I do with s'mores. Luckily, you don't need a bonfire either to enjoy the chocolate and melted marshmal…
Other than my morning cup of joe (like one of these iced coffee recipes, yum), I tend to drink water. But when the heat is on, I find myself craving lemonade, frosty coffee drinks, and other summer coolers. I can down icy drinks from Sta…
We're all a little prone to dehydration in the summer around here, so I'm not above letting my kids grab swigs of my Gatorade on a really hot day. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's not the best. So I'm all for trying out an…
There is simply no substitute for ice cream sundaes in the summer. When you're looking for hoots and hollers, a kiddie cone just won't do. Pull out the big scoops and make one of these ice cream sundae recipes. These sundaes are made wit…
I wish my kids would smack their lips over kale chips the same way they do the junk-filled candy they stare at in the supermarket checkout line. But while I can't say I've found a line of candy made of kale (ha), I have discovered a bran…
I have a big love for finding the perfect hostess gifts for those overnight or weekend invitations that crop up over the summer--if we're lucky. (Hint: feel free to invite us! My kids eat nothing and we bring good hostess gifts .) While …
This week we found ourselves unexpectedly in need of a grill at a summer rental. We didn't want to invest a fortune --we apartment dwellers can't quite throw a few steaks on the grill in the middle of our living rooms. So I just love the…
The start of blueberry season has arrived, calling for easy, fabulous blueberry recipes that make delicious use of the little blue dynamo. Grab several pints--since it's peak season, you'll need some to nosh on naked (the berries, not yo…
Being named the #1 anything in New York is a major badge of honor. Not to brag, but this city is chock full of the best of pretty much everything our country has to offer. Knowing that, when I found out there was a new #1 Zagat rated ice…
The best party recipes for occasions like the Fourth of July, are simple party recipes that allow you enjoy the celebration too. These festive treats are just that easy. You can even have little ones help with the prep work, while older …