Have you recently undergone a kitchen makeover or renovation and have great ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos of the process? Did you figure out a smart, efficient way to organize your pantry or cupboards, or come across a tip or product that changed your life in the kitchen? We want to see it!

Every week we showcase reader kitchens in our Before and After feature, and we’re always looking for examples of smart kitchen solutions and organizing ideas. If you have a story to tell and good photos to go with it, send it to us! Even better? Follow these tips so we’ll be sure to take notice of your project:

READ MORE »

READ MORE »

Talk about easy! This “poached” salmon recipe isn’t necessarily about long cooking but it definitely highlights a slow cooker’s other abilities — like putting something into the pot and walking away. What you get is a moist, flavorful salmon without the usual worries of dry, overcooked fish.

READ MORE »

Everyone has heard of a baked potato bar — but how about a baked sweet potato bar? This fresh twist on the classic party meal was the centerpiece of the fall pumpkin-carving party I hosted and it was a great way to feed a crowd without a lot of fuss. I chose to go with an Indian-themed meal full of spices, curries and coconut, but there are so many other directions you can take an idea like this.

READ MORE »

Although it forms the foundation of so many meals, the humble onion rarely gets showcased front and center. The first time I cooked a whole, stuffed onion, I was a bit apprehensive; would it be too pungent, too odiferous, too much? In fact, it was succulent and sweet and made the perfect vessel for stuffing. I instantly imagined serving roasted stuffed onions at Thanksgiving or any cozy fall dinner.

This particular recipe was inspired by one of my favorite dishes, kale sautéed with onions and golden raisins, along with nutty, chewy wild rice.

READ MORE »

Open Slideshow

One of the best ways to guarantee perfectly cooked beans — ones that emerge creamy and tender instead of crunchy or mushy — is cooking them ever-so gently over low, steady heat. Hmm… low and steady heat, you say? Sounds to me like a job for the slow cooker.

READ MORE »

This week I’ve been sharing the fall pumpkin-carving party I hosted with my friend Lydia, an autumnal afternoon of carving pumpkins, sipping cider and sitting down for a romantic outdoor dinner at dusk. Today I’m going to give you a full look at how we transformed the blank slate of Lydia’s backyard into party central, with a casual pumpkin-carving zone and a cozy buffet and dining area.

I’ll also give you all the details how I created a mostly make-ahead menu centered on a healthy Indian-themed sweet potato bar full of fresh yet comforting flavors. And there’s a fun DIY project: an eye-catching (but simple!) table runner made out of butcher paper and neon tape. Ready to dive in?

READ MORE »

Side dishes are accompaniments that should complement a main dish, make it better, and accentuate its positives. Plunking down an afterthought on the table next to the pièce de résistance is like telling your date to a black tie affair that it’s ok to wear underwear. Some sides are quick and easy like this spicy kale. Others turn a usual suspect on its side, as in the case of this butternut squash. Salads like this slaw, aren’t “just a salad,” but rather attention-getters in their own right.

And sometimes a side dish requires more effort than the main dish it’s meant to bolster. These beans fit into that category and yield results that are worth your time.

READ MORE »