Fudgy Squash Brownies have it all. They are chocolatey and rich, packed with fiber, have a smooth texture, and are a classic chocolate dessert. You may be asking yourself, “What in the world are Squash Brownies?!” Well the name has everything to do with their main ingredient, squash! Yes, the … [Read more...]
Double Chocolate Muffin
Double chocolate muffin goodness is probably the best thing to wake up to on New Year's Day! Whether it's all you can muster to make because of a late night (they're easy easy easy) or you're entertaining a crowd for brunch this is going to become your go-to recipe. Really I use chocolate … [Read more...]
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
A healthier version of mac and cheese that replaces half the pasta with roasted cauliflower. Add Boursin cheese for extra flavor and enjoy this delicious and easy recipe for a weeknight. I've cut the pasta almost in half and replaced it with roasted veggie in this cauliflower mac and cheese! … [Read more...]
Pomegranate Guacamole with Pink Grapefruit
Grapefruit and Pomegranate Guacamole brings the creaminess of avocado together with juicy citrus and ruby red fruit. The pop of flavor is the perfect twist to this classic dip. Guacamole is a classic recipe that everyone loves, but adding pomegranate seeds and fresh citrus gives it an unexpected … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Bites
Peanut Butter Bites candy are like peanut butter caramel chews. Easy to make candy that is great to make with the kids, and fun for gift giving. I grew up making candy with my mom, especially around Christmas. But there would be times we'd make taffy or honey candy to pull at other times of … [Read more...]
Cheese Boards: Tips for Entertaining
Use these expert tips and learn how to make a cheese board. An appetizer spread or cheese course your friends will love! Knowing some simple basics will help you serve the best variety. I live on the upper west side of Manhattan. There are so many grocery stores and gourmet food markets right … [Read more...]
Ginger Spice Button Cookies
These little button cookies are like mini bites of gingerbread bedazzled with jewels. The crystal sugar gives them a sweet little crunch. Tiny ginger cookies like these are perfect for gifting in a little bag. If you don't eat them all before they get out the door, that is. Happy … [Read more...]
Mandarin & Prosciutto Bruschetta
Mandarin & Prosciutto Bruschetta make every guest sing a little song of love! Salty, sweet, crunchy and indulgent bites; perfect for gatherings, or anytime you need a glorious nibble. When I developed this recipe, I think I ate these for lunch and dinner that day. They are supposed to be … [Read more...]
Pistachio Chocolate Bark (Palettes)
Chocolate bark gets a festive French makeover! If you wander around Paris and make your way through every chocolate shop you see (which is what every food-obsessed gal does, right?), you'll run across beautiful trays of little palettes. What you're looking at is essentially chocolate bark, made the … [Read more...]
Buttery Black Licorice Caramels + Video
These buttery black licorice caramels will be a hit with, well, everyone. Watch the video to see the step by step instructions to make them yourself. My mom used to hand me the wooden spoon (there were no silicone spatulas back then) and hold her hand over mine with the spoon handle inside, … [Read more...]
Vanilla Bean Salted Caramels + Video
Vanilla Salted Caramels are a classic candy, perfect for gift giving, and sneaking from the cupboard! Salted caramel started as a food trend. Something fancy chefs devised in restaurant kitchens. It made its way into fine chocolate shops, magazines, cookbooks, regular awesome restaurants and … [Read more...]
Gingerbread Caramel Sauce and Apple Dip
Gingerbread caramel sauce tastes like all the wonderful spices of the holidays in molten sugar heaven. Use this as a dessert sauce, for ice cream or just as a dip for apples or cookies. Gingerbread caramel sauce is in my top ten. Really! My list of favorite recipes changes all the time. I get … [Read more...]
Coconut Cherry Balls
Coconut snowball cookies are a buttery, delicious shortbread with sweet maraschino cherries. Rolled in confectioners' sugar they are tasty anytime of year. It's time to make coconut snowball cookies. I know this because New York City is decorated for the season! The Rockefeller Christmas … [Read more...]
Speedy Turkey Tetrazzini -- For Thanksgiving Leftovers!
Thanksgiving Day Leftovers are the bomb! And no need to settle for the same old sandwich. This creamy, comforting casserole will make your head spin with joy. Do any of you remember the Turkey Tetrazzini of your childhood? There's a chance it was loaded with the good stuff, turkey, peas, … [Read more...]
Spiced Cheesecake With Chocolate-Ginger Crust
Cheesecake is the new pie. If you don't believe it, just make this Spiced Cheesecake for Thanksgiving dessert and see who pays attention to the pie! Just look at that impressive situation! It begged to be shot with velvet, like a fancy painting. There's fresh ginger in the chocolaty crust … [Read more...]
10 Simple & Chic Thanksgiving Place Card Ideas
Try one of these 10 simple & chic Thanksgiving place card ideas on your holiday table this year. I love entertaining and most especially bringing people together around food. In all honesty I rarely set a table in my tiny New York apartment, but given the opportunity, I also love to set a … [Read more...]
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta touts plenty of flavor, sweet peas and can be made in minutes. Use a rotisserie chicken to make this quick meal. I usually don't call out "30-minute" recipes. Those weeknight meals so many publications and sites advertise. Most recipes take more than 30 minutes … [Read more...]
Monster Halloween Cookies
Black and white chocolate chip cookies get a Halloween candy twist with leftover loot from Trick or Treating. Listen friends. I have a solution to a problem you didn't know you had.What to do with all that Halloween candy! (other than eat it that is.) Chop it up and stuff in into black and … [Read more...]
Shriveled Ogre-Nose Pizza
Making little kids laugh has got to be one of the best things on the planet. I love when they lose it! Just toss their heads back laughing. It's so gratifying to know that they are laughing, not out of courtesy, but because they genuinely think it's funny. (Well at least most kids haven't honed … [Read more...]
Almond Joy In A Jar
If you like the classic candy bar, you'll go nuts for this creamy, spoonable dessert. It's a delectable Almond joy parfait, perfect for leftover Halloween candy. When Halloween comes around, the stores seem to fill with nothing but candy! It is almost impossible to avoid all of that … [Read more...]
Crazy For Candy Cupcakes
These are impressive bombs. You put them on the table and BOOM! Everyone is instantly impressed. With piles of delicious buttercream, and loads of Halloween candy, you can't go wrong. Make them ahead too! This meringue buttercream holds really well. *One little hint: if you're not a huge … [Read more...]
Mozzarella Stick Mummy Bowls
Cute craft alert! A spooky-cute Halloween snack idea that doubles as a craft project! Who doesn't love to eat a crispy mozzarella stick out of the top of a mummy head? If there were ever a snack that screams “party trick!” this is it. These Mozzarella Stick Mummy Bowls are part edible moment, … [Read more...]
Easy Pumpkin Milkshakes in Spooky Glasses
These easy Pumpkin Milkshakes in spooky glasses just take a few chocolate chips and some handy work to make Halloween so much sweeter! I love pumpkin milkshakes. Shoot, I love pretty much any milkshake! But when pumpkin season comes along, I'm ready with my excuses for why I need a milkshake … [Read more...]
Broken Bones Graveyard Cake
If you're having a classy, spiders-and-witches Halloween party this year, how great would this cake be as the centerpiece of the dessert table?!?! The meringue bones are easy to prepare. It just takes one or two before you are a pro at piping the simple shape. Then make your favorite … [Read more...]
No-Carve Fall Pumpkin Crafts
Let me count the ways I love no-carve pumpkin crafts. You can leave the pumpkins in the house and on the porch from October through Thanksgiving! Then after two weeks I don't end up with wilty jack-o-lanterns that look like angry old men. The no-carve option gives you a full Fall season … [Read more...]
Spooky Spiral Halloween Cookies
Spooky Spiral Halloween Cookies are the ultimate psychedelic treat! Their swirly design and sweet flavor are sure to wow everyone who tries them. Every fall I have a contest with myself to see how much I can bake, and every year I seem to beat my record. Each fall I find myself coming back to … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Planters
Turn faux pumpkins into chic planters. Just do it! They are so dang fancy!! (Mostly I love that you can put little succulents in them and I just dig succulents.) The cutest gal Bre, at Bre Purposed blog came up with this great Fall idea.Metallic colors are the coolest and green plants and … [Read more...]
Monogram Letter "Wreath"
Monogrammed anything is so on trend--and why not replace the same old front door wreath with a family letter?! The Crafting Chicks featured this awesome idea on their blog. I featured it on Fox and Friends as a Fall season idea, and that's what I love about it. You can change the ribbon or … [Read more...]
Apple Stamps Craft
GREAT IDEAS! Remember potato stamps!? This crafty situation updates the edible stamp process to a cute fall shape! And even more fun--little hands can get in on the process. Check out CraftStylish blog for the details and create darling art projects, or fun totes for the season by stamping … [Read more...]
Why is it suggested that mushrooms be cleaned off with a wet paper towel instead of rinsing them off under running water?
Mushrooms are like little sponges! Rinsing them in water, or worse, soaking them in a bowl of water, just gives them a chance to drink up excess water like a dry dish sponge would. Because mushrooms already have a lot of water in their makeup, you typically give the moisture time to cook off, or add … [Read more...]
Dear Tara, I love kitchen gadgets, but I'm skeptical to buy them because they often end up in my graveyard of unused kitchen tools. Should I buy an Instant Pot? What about one of those sous-vide cookers? I feel like they're good tools, but maybe I'd use them once or twice and then set them aside only to collect dust. Are there any gadgets you consider must-haves?
I do too! And I'm like you and live in a small apartment with a small kitchen. In fact in my last apartment I stored my must-have salad spinner in my bedroom closet! Now it has a home in my slightly bigger space, but I feel your pain. Buying new kitchen gadgets or small appliances depends completely … [Read more...]
Huevos With Black Bean Hash Browns
Huevos with Black Bean Hash Browns is one of my favorite breakfast and brunch recipes. Seasoned hash browns get mashed black beans, onion and jalapeño mixed in for the perfect side to your morning eggs. Some folks are all about tacos, burritos and nachos for Cinco de Mayo. You know, the … [Read more...]
22 Things To Do With Silverware!
Simple projects to spruce up your game day table. You can make your buffet table the MVP with serving ideas and even crafts with plastic silverware. I had the most fun on The Today Show before the Super Bowl! I demonstrated all sorts of game day crafts for entertaining with ideas off of … [Read more...]
Tapenade Toasts With Roasted Vegetables + Prep Tip
I'm no vegetarian, but I sure do like veggies. Any kind.Even better is when they're roasted. Golden, tender, sometimes just a little charred! (I'll be completely honest, I have to force down broccoli, but when it's roasted--delish!) Here I've roasted an Italian medley of veggies and topped … [Read more...]
Barbecue Popcorn With An Easy BBQ Seasoning Mix
Barbecue Popcorn with an easy BBQ seasoning mix is a simple recipe with a tangy twist. You'll love this easy buttered-popcorn snack that tastes just like your favorite food! Popcorn in any of its variations is delicious. Sweet or salty, popcorn is always a tasty snack. But have you ever tried … [Read more...]
Tomato Chutney Toast With Ricotta And Honey
This toast or open-faced sandwich is the most delightful summer bite. Grilled bread topped with creamy ricotta, savory tomato chutney, and a drizzle of honey make a wonderful summer snack or side dish. I wouldn't complain if this was all I had to eat for a month. Actually that is not true. I … [Read more...]
Apple Cinnamon Popcorn - Easy Snack
Apple cinnamon popcorn is a take on the classic flavor combination. Just a little cinnamon spice and lots of fruity apple flavor covers this easy buttered-popcorn snack. How to get apple flavor on popcorn: Just how do you get tangy, sweet apple flavor on popcorn? I was determined to find … [Read more...]
Toasts With Sweet Potato Spread
Tahini, a smooth sesame seed butter, adds richness and mild flavor to this sweet, savory spread. Depending on the mood of your local grocer, you'll find the tahini near the peanut butter, in the health food section, or in the international foods aisle. Oh my! No matter where you find it, it … [Read more...]
Homemade Chocolate Malt Popcorn
Crunch and munch your favorite soda fountain treat! This chocolate malt popcorn recipe is easy and super delicious. You know how good chocolate milkshakes are. Now you can get that tasty flavor on crunchy popcorn! Just like a great chocolate malt, this snack has the perfect chocolate … [Read more...]
Avocado Toasts With Sprouts
Avocado Mash Toasts with Sprouts are great as an easy vegetarian lunch or snack. Avocado mash toasts are all the rage in the food hub of New York.I don't remember the first time I had one. But we made them for breakfast or lunch all the time in the test kitchen. We would use whatever … [Read more...]
Spice Smarts: How To Keep And Use Spices
Get spice smarts! Change the way you store and use your spices. Keep them fresh and organized so cooking with spices is more fun. Having cooked in many different kitchens, people's houses and friends apartments, I've rifled through my fair share of spice cabinets. I certainly have a system … [Read more...]
Gingerbread House Façades
When I build a holiday gingerbread house, I’m always a tiny bit sad to have only one to decorate. I also dislike waiting for the frosting-glue to dry. Soooo impatient! I’m solving problems all over the place: Just make the front! These cute houses are perfect for little hands to decorate, or … [Read more...]