Cooking

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

I have so many friends who are vegetarian these days (including my sister-in-law who usually stays with us during the holidays), and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to feast as heartily as everyone else on Thanksgiving. With a main course like this acorn squash stuffed with quinoa, pumpkin seeds and kale, I’d almost consider skipping […]

Modern Thanksgiving Dinner

Planning the Thanksgiving menu is one of my favorite activities of the holiday season, and I fully embrace the challenge of satisfying the traditionalists in my family (yes Dad, cranberry jelly will be happening) while following my own impulse to put a modern spin on a few of the dishes. Today’s menu is what I’d be […]

Dinner Party for First-Timers

Whether you’re a newlywed or you just signed the lease on a new home, nothing beats the excitement of inviting your nearest and dearest to break bread at your table. But if you’ve never hosted a seated dinner before, the sheer thought of cooking for a group can be overwhelming. The key? Keep it simple! Set […]

Halloween Party for Grown-Ups

When I took a poll last month about which seasonal menus you’d love to get a little help with, “Adult Halloween Party” was one of the most frequent requests. I’m right there with you: it can be really tough to find the balance between spooky and sophisticated, and while you want to infuse the menu with […]

Candice Kumai

Pretty is as pretty does. And in the case of Candice Kumai, a clean-eating chef, health journalist and author (with enviable hair, skin and figure) pretty is as pretty eats. Kumai was born and raised by a Japanese mother and a Polish-American father in San Diego, CA. At age 22, she attended Le Cordon Bleu […]

Neighborhood Open House

Autumn feels like a fitting time of year to reconnect with faraway friends, as well as the people who live right in our own neighborhoods. When I was growing up, my parents were always friends with our neighbors — we’d have dinner parties, leave baked goods on each other’s doorsteps, and when I was old enough […]

Football Watch Party

Call me a fair-weather fan, but I equate football season with one thing: parties! Whether you’re inviting friends to gather around the tv in your living room, or meeting people at a genuine pre-game tailgate, the common denominator is good drinks and really great food. A lot of you guys have been asking for menu ideas […]

A Healthy and Decadent Dinner Party

*editors note: We’re big fans of all things Purely Elizabeth, the nutritional whole goods company pioneered by environmental activist, Elizabeth Stein. And since there’s nothing we love more than healthy, delicious recipes, we jumped at the chance to get a firsthand peek at a few dishes from Elizabeth’s new cookbook, Eating Purely: More Than 100 All-Natural, Organic, Gluten-Free Recipes For […]

A Clean Green Summer Meal

If you’re struggling to think of delicious, filling, yet healthy dishes that are easy to prepare, look no further. Today’s three-course menu from author, chef, journalist, and all-around lovely person Candice Kumai, is the answer to serving a nutritious summer meal at home. Tired of that same ole’ Caesar salad? Candice’s take on the classic gets an upgrade with apple, avocado, and […]

Gaby Dalkin

Gaby Dalkin is your quintessential California girl. From her sun-kissed complexion to her happy-go-lucky personality she positively radiates sunshine. I had the opportunity to meet her this year and after bonding about a shared love of California, Austin and Tim Riggins (Texas Forever!) I knew I couldn’t wait to feature her SoCal kitchen. Like a […]

Mrs. Lilien

Kelley Lilien, aka Mrs. Lilien, has been shaking cocktails since before she learned to tie her shoes. “I would often fix up my mom and grandma’s drinks,” she says. “Which is when I discovered the creativity in it. Years later, I drew the same discovery from cooking.” As an adult Kelley has parlayed these cocktail-mixing […]

Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks

Heidi Swanson’s cookbooks are deeply rooted in a sense of place. Her personal anecdotes and signature, muted photographs paint a rich picture of her busy and interesting life in idyllic Northern California. Heidi has written two cookbooks and her highly anticipated third, Near & Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel, is due out this […]

What’s On Hand :: Amy Chaplin

Fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. This is especially true in the case of vegetarian chef, blogger and cookbook author, Amy Chaplin. As a young girl growing up in rural Australia, she enjoyed fresh vegetables straight from her family’s garden while learning the joys of cooking alongside her mother. “My Mother loved hosting large parties […]

What’s On Hand :: Sweet Paul

Paul Lowe, aka Sweet Paul, is certainly living the sweet life. He was born in Oslo, Norway and raised by his Auntie Gunnvor (Great Aunt) and Mormor (grandmother) who nurtured his love of cooking and crafting at an early age. With their impeccable tastes, but “not always so perfect cakes”, they also instilled the mantra […]

Julia Turshen

Julia Turshen rocks my world. My copy of It’s All Good, the best-selling cookbook she co-wrote with Gwyneth Paltrow, is dog-eared, bookmarked and covered in curry from countless batches of my favorite Roasted Cauliflower + Chickpeas and Mustard. In addition to roasting vegetables with Gwyneth, Julia’s eaten kimchi with Jean-Georges and toured Spain with Mario Batali. […]

What’s On Hand :: Erin Gleeson

A husband and wife leave New York to travel West, and settle down in a little cabin in the woods. Could there be anything more idyllic? This is the real life story behind Erin Gleeson’s inspiring food blog and new cookbook, the Forest Feast. Each week, Erin creates simple yet delicious meals inspired by the seasonal […]

What’s On Hand :: Deana Saukam

It could be the Texas heat, but foodie Deana Saukam places the utmost importance on proper hydration. “I probably drink AT LEAST a gallon of water a day,” she says. “I think I was a fish in my past life. Or a mermaid.” Maybe so, but in this life Deana is the PR/Media/Events Director for […]