Kitchen Tips

I have no doubt my grandfather would have been a TikTok legend for his wacky and slightly unhinged adventures in the kitchen. But there was always a method to the madness. While his loosey-goosey recipes initially sounded a bit odd, they were always a hit—like the unexpected yet charming ingredient […]

My husband, Gavin, firmly believes that chicken wings are always the right move—whether it’s game day, a casual summer weeknight, or honestly, any excuse to fire up the grill. Normally, he makes them on his beloved Traeger, carefully smoking and crisping them to perfection. But sometimes, he just doesn’t feel […]

If you’ve already tried my grandfather’s unhinged tuna salad or the chaos sandwich he ate for lunch nearly every day growing up, then you understand what you’re getting yourself into by reading this. If not, welcome to the wacky world of a former mess hall cook’s shenanigans, as told by […]

Every holiday meal (and many other meals for that matter) at my house included my mom’s famous green beans. She’d start them early, sometimes the day before or at least an hour before the rest of the meal. I could tell immediately when the cooking began because her secret ingredient […]

Edna Lewis ranks among my favorite teachers of culinary wisdom. Her cookbooks highlight seasonal produce and showcase a thoughtful approach to pantry staples. Each time I flip through her pages, I find something new to learn. While searching for a tomato soup recipe, I discovered a smart technique she used […]

During a family weekend at my parents’, my family was tired of digging into leftovers. They were delicious, but you can only eat so many. Luckily, my mom, as always, was ready to start pumping some different snacks out of the kitchen. This is a tradition in my family during […]

On dark winter nights, my Iowan mother and Missourian grandmother would stir together hearty pots of soul-warming goulash. The one-pot stovetop wonder would come together in a simmering marriage of ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, and elbow macaroni. No frills, no tricks. Goulash is straightforward feeds-a-crowd comfort food found […]

Whether it’s date night or dinner out with friends, a great bottle of wine can really set the tone for an evening. But at the same time, wine can be a bit intimidating. There’s a lot to consider: regions, vintages, flavor notes—plus making sure it pairs well with everyone’s food. […]

When you need an easy meal that satisfies kids and adults alike, a lot of people reach for that blue box of mac and cheese (it even won Best Boxed Mac & Cheese in our past Community Choice Awards!). Making a box of mac and cheese is simple: boil water, […]

Simply put, some foods just don’t belong in the freezer. Thanks to their chemical makeup or high water content, freezing can change their texture, flavor, or consistency in ways that make them unappetizing—or even inedible—after thawing. And tossing a soggy, separated, or curdled mess into the trash isn’t just disappointing, […]