Ice cream + soda. I don't know who first conceived of this miraculous combination, but now that we all know about the creamy, bubbly glory that are ice cream floats, there's no turning back. No matter how decadent, I can't say no to them…
It’s time to get a head start on your meal plan for next week. From the perfect Labor Day burger to a three-minute pasta sauce, we’ve got five easy weeknight dinners that will get you through the week. So grab a pen, make your shopping l…
This weekend is Labor Day, which means that it's time to stock up on extra charcoal for the grill and ice cream for the freezer. We get that extra long weekend, football is kicking off, and the air is starting to feel the slightest bit c…
With summer right around the corner and the opportunity to gather again, many of us will be hosting our summer parties. Yay! But with the rising costs of all of the things we're looking to keep our festivities affordable. Here are 5 tips…
Who doesn’t want to bottle up the essence of summer and put it in a jar? You may not be able to pack away the sunshine or lazy holiday afternoons, but you can still savor that juicy peach or perfectly ripe blueberry with one of our 5 eas…
You've probably seen the food blog headlines: Ripen an avocado in just minutes! or How to ripen an avocado in the oven! Given that a) I love cooking with avocado since it's an easy, nutrient-dense fruit that I can serve as a kid-friendly…
An icy cold, salt-rimmed margarita really hits the spot at this point in the summer, but if you ask me, tequila is a serious commitment. When I want to beat the heat by sipping on something lighter, super refreshing, and (sometimes) with…
The end of July and early August mark the end of summer for many, so it's no wonder that it's also the most popular vacation time of year for families. Here at Cool Mom HQ, we are big fans of renting a vacation home over a hotel room(s) …
For those of us who need a caffeine fix in the morning, but can't bear the heat any longer, iced coffee is the only way to go. But at this point in the summer, we're looking for something more than just coffee + milk + ice cubes. So we'v…
When my daughter was diagnosed with a milk allergy over a dozen years ago, I whispered a quiet goodbye to big drippy ice cream cones enjoyed on a hot summer's day. But, I needn't have been quite so dramatic because the number of non-dair…
With all the running, swimming, climbing, and trekking that we do with the kids in the summer, we deserve a couple of extra calories at the end of a long, hot day, don't you think? But the best thing about these cold sweet treats isn't j…
When it comes to summer soirées, you have to consider the elements—heat, bugs, feeding a crowd— and anything that makes entertaining easier is a must. To keep from breaking a sweat when hosting this summer, you’ll need a few tricks, like…
Finding healthy store-bought snacks is a big back-to-school focus, but having had my kids home on summer break for nearly two weeks now, I realize that I'm in need of easy, on-the-go snacks now . With our summer schedule taking us out an…
You've done the work of picking the perfect watermelon and hauling it home, despite a weight that is roughly equal to that of a small toddler. Now it's time to enjoy your watermelon. Skip the boring cubes and opt for one of these waterme…
There are few disappointments in life like returning to a gallon of ice cream for a late-night, kid-free splurge and discovering that what was once blissfully smooth and creamy is now spiked with ice crystals, far less flavorful, and als…
Here in Nashville, we rarely have a summer day that doesn't cross the 90 degree threshold. So when I get home, I'm a lot more likely to be standing in front of the fridge with the door open, enjoying the arctic chill (and, uh, checking o…
We love hearing that more and more families are growing their own food, whether veggies in a backyard garden or just potted window sill herbs that kids can help tend. Either way, we're down with the yard-to-table trend and have rounded u…
During the summer, my kids are outside playing a lot, which is awesome. But when my neighbor's kids were recently sent home from camp because they were dehydrated, I realized that it's easier than I thought for the kids to get overheated…
I'd always heard that the key to keeping berries fresh as long as possible was to keep from washing them until right before eating. It's true that moisture from a quick wash can cause mold to proliferate, but keeping them dirty doesn't e…
In some ways, rhubarb are like ramps: The food world goes crazy for them every spring and summer and, though with good reason, family cooks are left wondering what in the world do I do with this. Fret not feeder of children! You, too, ca…
I have to confess, I've been man-handling salmon for most of my life. It's such a tender, elegant fish, yet too often mine ended up leathery, dry, or just completely fused to the frying pan and oozing white stuff (the worst!). Instead of…
Let's be honest: How many of us love ice cream cake as much now as we did when we were kids? Raises hand. As nostalgic as I get eating a store-bought ice cream cake, every time I partake I can't help but think that a homemade ice cream c…
Fire up the 'cue, it’s National Burger Day—though we hardly need a holiday to celebrate burgers. Whether for a weekend cookout or a quick weeknight dinner, burgers are a favorite meal, especially through summer, so we might as well learn…
If you're like me, there's only one thing worth ordering from the ice cream truck: soft serve dipped in that magical chocolate coating that instantly hardens as it hits the ice cold confection. Yea, I know, it doesn't quite fit my whole …