Megan and Leif’s Scandinavian-Inspired Oakland Charmer

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If the months of the year are guests at a dinner party, January is the friend who can’t stop talking about how great she feels now that she doesn’t do [insert most enjoyable things here] anymore. It’s admirable, but also kind of annoying. Of course you’d like to be your best self (her words, not yours), but do you have to give up so much in the process? Can’t the whole thing be a little more enjoyable?

Thankfully your down-to-earth buddy February is around to keep things real. When January makes you feel like a failure, February steps in to say it’s okay to take smaller steps towards your personal betterment, and it’s also okay to buy a little something to help you along the way. (He’s such a good guy to shop with!) With that in mind, here are five small things to buy for your kitchen next month to keep you moving positively and pleasantly through the new year.

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Let’s be honest — when it comes to popcorn, the plain stuff is kind of boring. I’m not saying I’d turn it down, but it just feels a little lackluster. Sure, it has the crunch factor going for it (I’ll give it that), but there’s no flavor or pizzazz.

Let’s call popcorn what it really is: a bite-sized vessel waiting to get loaded up with all of your favorite flavors and toppings.

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Miso Soup with Rice & Poached Egg

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Sure, breakfast for dinner is a thing, but it’s rare that the concept gets switched around. Who says you can’t do dinner for breakfast?

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Does your grocery store have a nutritionist on staff? The answer may very well be yes. As shoppers are becoming increasingly interested in improving their diets, more and more supermarkets are hiring in-store registered dietitians to help educate customers, answer nutrition-related questions, and even provide one-on-one consultations. They are the resident experts on all the good-for-you foods in the supermarket.

I turned to one of them, Amanda Barnes, RD, LDN, an in-store nutritionist for the Mid-Atlantic supermarket chain Giant Food, for some advice on shopping for healthier foods on a budget.

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Slow Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas

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You’ll almost never find our kitchens without a can or two of black beans stocked in the pantry. This versatile ingredient can be used in so many different ways. From soups and chilis to enchiladas and salads, the recipes are seemingly endless. We chose our 11 favorite black bean recipes to get you started with something new.

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This slow-cooker mac and cheese is so easy that it feels like it can’t possibly be right. Dry pasta, milk, and cheese go in, and a few hours later, you’re scooping warm macaroni and cheese onto your plate.

Ready for a little magic in your dinner? Let’s take a look at how this macaroni and cheese can be yours.

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I have nothing against regular french fries, or even sweet potato fries — you’ll definitely never catch me saying no to either one of them. But fries don’t have to be synonymous with potatoes. In fact, you can easily turn just about any vegetable into fries that are crunchy and delicious.

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Stir-fried tofu is not, perhaps, at the top of your list of scintillating weeknight dinners. But in its own humble, unassuming way, tofu can be downright sexy. Give it some time by itself in a hot wok, and you’ll get golden edges and bouncy texture that will surprise you with its ability to make you swoon.

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When my child turned 1, it suddenly seemed like the world was conspiring to up her sugar intake. There were lollipops at the supermarket (and the bank), bowls of candy at family nights in our town square, birthday cupcakes at daycare, and fruit snacks at the playground. I had so much sugar anxiety that I once seriously debated skipping a friend’s party when I learned there would be store-bought cupcakes piled high with bright-blue frosting.

But I’ve learned to relax about sugar — much to the relief of my entire family. Here’s how.

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Braised Coconut Spinach and Chickpeas with Lemon

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Winter weather calls for cooking a meal low and slow on the stove for a couple of hours. The spices mixed with the meat or veggies (and maybe even a splash of wine) are guaranteed to make your home smell wonderful for hours. Stews and braises are closely related, with a defining difference: the amount of liquid used. But the most important thing they have in common? How delicious they are when served up for dinner on a cold, snowy night.

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