The Box vs. from Scratch Mac and cheese is a quick, creamy, kid-approved classic. The boxed version is an easy reach on a weeknight — but have you ever wondered what you're really trading for that convenience? Let's compare what you get in the box to a homemade mac and cheese, made simply with milk, […]
When you want a serving idea that's as visually stunning as it is delicious, you'll love using verrines. The beauty of these little cups is the ease of serving and versatility — the possibilities for fillings are endless, both sweet and savory. All you need are your verrines and a few delicious ideas. You can […]
Pulling together a delicious dinner is simple and quick when you have the right ingredients. To do this, instead of looking for recipes for several easy one-pot meals, think about what ingredients you can cook and repurpose several ways. When you prepare one main ingredient, you can create several easy dinners in less time than […]
A fabulous meal can start with almost nothing when you save little bits of this and that — a handful of green beans, one potato, a few spoonfuls of rice, a meatball, or a piece of quiche. These ingredients are the beginning of your next great meal. You don’t need a recipe — you just […]
You can make a lot with zucchini, and I’ll share some ideas with you in this post, but the real takeaway is … (this may surprise you) — when to cook! The time-consuming part is the cooking time, and the oven does that for you. Your job is just to remember to get it in […]
Healthwise, is the U.S. the worst off among developed countries? Evidence shows that the U.S. has some of the poorest health outcomes among high-income and developed nations, despite outspending all of them. The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country — around 17 to 18% of GDP and over $13,000 per person in […]
When it comes to table manners and how to eat, the focus is usually on teaching young children good habits. But this post is for teens and grown-ups too — because, sadly, I see things that need to be said. Even my kids notice, as they pointed out one evening at dinner while on vacation […]
What Is It and Why Is It in Our Food? Citric acid comes up often in my writing. In this piece, I explain why I think it's best to avoid it. Citric acid is one of the most widely used preservatives in prepared foods — if not the most. Though its use is allowed, the […]
If you have ever given up some processed foods to eat healthier, then found yourself thinking, "I miss my ranch, I miss my ketchup," or any other prepared food you're craving — it's worth pausing to ask: Are you really missing the food? Or are you missing the feeling it gave you? With many processed […]
Have you heard of the Yuka app? When you scan a barcode on a food label, Yuka gives it a health score on a scale of 0 to 100, with colors (green, orange, red) indicating good, poor, and bad scores. I downloaded it and gave it a try. I started with some staples in my […]
Why It's Worth It It can be hard to find the motivation to cook — especially when you're tired or stressed. On days like that, dinner easily takes a back seat. But there's a big payoff when we stick to our evening rhythm. Sitting down to a good meal is relaxing and calming — especially […]
My husband and I both grew up with dessert as a part of dinner. And dessert didn't mean "treat." It just meant the last course.In France and Italy, dessert is simply the finish — part of a meal. It's not a guilty pleasure or a bribe, just part of dinner. For me, most often my […]
