If you love sweet tea, this Southern sweet tea recipe is for you. Few things are more refreshing on a hot day than sipping an ice-cold glass slowly. I worried at first that sweet tea might be too simple for its own post, but it deserves one. Sweet tea is how we welcome guests into … Read more

Chocolate Spartak Cake: a rich, chocolate 9-layer cake filled with tangy sour cream frosting, finished with chocolate ganache and decorated with buttercream flowers. If you enjoy Ukrainian cakes, try more recipes from the same collection. Chocolate Spartak Cake Recipe A few months ago I made a 12″ version of this cake for my mom’s birthday, … Read more

Over 30 easy after-school snacks that are quick to make. Includes healthy options, veggie-forward snacks, dips, fruit ideas and more. “What should I eat?” When my kids were small, that was always their first question as soon as they walked in the door. Sound familiar? Keeping healthy, fast, and tasty snacks on hand for hungry … Read more

Creating a Fantasy Chocolate Bug: Week Two of the Pastry Course Last week we focused on understanding concave and convex shapes and began preparing work for our final showpiece. Some students started pieces for the final assignment, while others designed imaginative items. I chose to design a fantasy chocolate bug. This week went much more … Read more

This pistachio cardamom cake with cream cheese frosting is a fragrant, tender dessert that combines nutty pistachios and warm cardamom for a cake perfect for festive occasions or everyday indulgence. Though I’ll be away for Diwali this year, I wanted to recreate the flavors that make the celebration special. This recipe yields two 9″ cake … Read more

Parsley pesto is a bright, flavorful twist on classic basil pesto. Ready in minutes, this walnut-parsley version is excellent tossed with pasta, spread on sandwiches, used as a pizza sauce, or served alongside grilled meats and vegetables. What is pesto? Pesto is a raw Italian sauce traditionally made from basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and … Read more

I’m completely smitten with this grilled artichoke recipe — I made it two nights in a row. I even gave my filet mignon to my husband last night so I could have his grilled artichoke. I love meat, but these artichokes are that good. Each artichoke half holds its own lemony butter dipping sauce, which … Read more

These Sloppy Joe Sliders feature ground turkey simmered in a homemade sloppy joe sauce made with ketchup, mustard, tomato paste, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Topped with shredded mozzarella and baked until golden, they come together in under an hour — a perfect, crowd-pleasing option for weeknights, game day, or potlucks. Make your sloppy joe … Read more

The ultimate easy lunch meal prep: shortcut grilled chicken Caesar mason jar salads live up to their name. Full of shortcuts, this recipe uses simple ingredients and a few store-bought items to make weekday lunches effortless. No fuss, no complicated techniques—just satisfying, healthy food. This version features marinated grilled chicken breast, crisp romaine, crunchy croutons, … Read more

With tender shreds of pork in a rich barbecue sauce, this smoked pork butt is the ultimate pulled pork. A Traeger (or any smoker) makes it easy to develop deep smoky flavor, and finishing the meat braised in a covered pot keeps it juicy and fork-tender — perfect for feeding a crowd at your next … Read more