(Image credit: Courtesy of Cool Whip)

About once a year, if you open my freezer for something normal, like ice, you’ll find a big tub of Cool Whip — and that’s never going to change. I indulge when I’m making my grandmother’s family famous coconut cake because there’s no substitution for the sweet and creamy goodness that is Cool Whip. It brings back great memories for me. It means a special occasion, a surprise dessert, and family fun.

I love fresh, hand-whisked whipped cream. There’s no denying how perfect it is over strawberries and homemade sweet biscuits, even if you use Bisquick to make them. Bisquick, which, by the way, is another product you can pry out of my cold, dead hands because, goshdarnit, it makes things easier. But that’s another story for another day.

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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

It’s time you get to know labneh. And if you’re already in the know, it’s time you use labneh to make cheesecake bars.

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Wine and food pairings don’t need to be as complicated as they are often made out to be. Sure, there are certain wines that work better with certain foods, but you don’t need to overthink it too much. That’s especially the case when it comes to pre-dinner snacks and sips. When you’re easing into the evening, whether it’s a dinner party with friends or a quiet Sunday on the couch, the best approach is the most causal approach: Pop open whatever you most enjoy drinking, be it white, rosé, red, or even bubbles, and snack on whatever you’re in the mood for. These 20 appetizers work with just about any bottle of wine and I have a good feeling that at least one of them is what you’re in the mood for.

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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

Let’s all thank the Brits for the trifle, which we are going to take full advantage of here to turn leftover cake into breakfast. Breakfast trifle will make you look like the Patron Saint of Brunch (or hey, just a cool mom) and it’s easy, pretty, and delicious.

So what is a breakfast trifle, you ask? It has layers of tangy yogurt, studded with ripe blueberries and candied ginger, all sandwiched between vanilla cake and granola. Sounds like a real treat, right? That’s because it is!

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From Apartment Therapy → Can’t Find (or Afford) the Kitchen Island of Your Dreams? Make One from IKEA Parts

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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

This is a darn fine coffee cake, with a sweet vanilla cake, generous streusel and nuts throughout, and a cinnamon-vanilla aroma that will make your house smell better than a bakery. Oh, and the cake part still only requires one bowl, thanks to our one-bowl vanilla cake. That first cup of coffee is starting to look even better.

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There are a few luxuries that can make your kitchen instantly seem like it belongs in a Michelin-star chef’s home: a gorgeous range, plenty of counter space, and a seriously impressive refrigerator. When it comes to the latter, how do you decide whether you should get a built-in or if a freestanding fridge will do? The cost will play a huge role in helping you decide. Other key factors? Aesthetics and how much space you have, for sure.

Keep reading to check out the pros and cons of a freestanding fridge versus a built-in one.

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From Apartment Therapy → This Weekend: Practice This Money-Saving Mindset & Reap Rewards for Years

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(Image credit: Christine Han)

If the combination of strawberries and rhubarb wins your heart the way it does mine, then this is the only dessert you’ll need from now through the end of summer. Made with tender cream biscuits, these individual shortcakes start off like the basic version you know, with a few twists that will dazzle your tastebuds. A quick roast in the oven tames the tart bite of the rhubarb and heightens the sweet flavor of the strawberries. But what really takes it over the top is the cardamom whipped cream. That’s a game-changer.

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Before you go on vacation, what do you do? If you are like me, you probably clean out your fridge, empty your trash cans, and try to straighten up a little bit. Coming home to spoiled milk and smelly garbage is no fun! Now that I’m a mom, I add one more thing to my pre-vacation to-do list: I always (always!) stock the freezer. It takes a little forethought and planning, but it’s the very best gift I give myself before vacation.

From single-serve oatmeal to spinach-feta wraps, here are some of my family’s post-travel freezer favorites (without any mention of frozen waffles).

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