A few years ago I was in Italy talking with a few other people about food, and somehow the conversation turned to diets, wellness, weight loss, etc. The two women I was with started describing their various eating plans — one didn’t eat after 6 p.m., and the other avoided carbs. I said I did not really follow a diet or eating plan, but in general I just tried to use the Mediterranean Diet as a guideline. When they didn’t know what that was, I explained it was about focusing on fruits and vegetables, fish and poultry, whole grains, and olive oil.

They both looked at me like I was out of my mind.

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Most maternity photoshoots capture a particularly idyllic, relaxed-in-a-field-of-flowers version of pregnancy that doesn’t bear much resemblance to the real thing for most people. Someone out there might spend nine months wearing a flower crown in a field of lavender, but it wasn’t me. I felt like I spent 40 solid weeks in a grocery store trying to figure out what I was allowed to eat while pregnant, and then eating all of that.

That’s why one Texas mom is going viral this week with a set of grocery store maternity photos that are very relatable, and a whole lot of fun.

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Of all the cookware I own, there is nothing I use more often than my Dutch oven. It’s the workhorse of the kitchen, making almost anything from stovetop soups to oven-baked casseroles. These large, heavy pots are a worthwhile investment, and today we’re sharing a selection for a range of budgets.

And when you’re ready to put your Dutch oven to work, these 15 recipes are just the thing to inspire you.

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If you’re dairy-free, indulging in baked goods may seem out of the question. That’s far from the truth, however, since there are a whole slew of ingredients that can be used in place of butter and milk that mimic what they do in our favorite cookies and cakes.

Here are seven essential recipes to know if you follow a dairy-free diet.

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One of my favorite things about cooking for groups is finding new recipes that fit my friends’ dietary restrictions. I’m not vegan, but many of my friends are, and finding good vegan recipes that taste good without including eggs, cheese, or other animal products is a fun challenge.

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Since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November, there has been much speculation about what kind of cake they would have for their wedding. At first there were rumors about a banana cake, which was quickly put down. Then, it was announced in March that the couple had decided to hire pastry chef Claire Ptak who owns Violet Bakery in East London. She also used to work at Chez Panisse in California. It was said Ptak was planning on making a lemon and elderflower wedding cake for the happy couple (a tradition-breaking choice).

Well, today was the wedding day and it did not disappoint. Between ogling all the incredible hats, the cars, and of course Meghan Markle’s gorgeous and slightly unexpected dress, it was easy to forget all about the cake. But do not fear — we have photos for you.

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Did you watch the royal wedding this morning? That’s all everyone seems to be able to talk about this week. While I can’t say I’m sad that people won’t be speculating on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding food anymore, it’s been fun to follow along the last couple months. This week in food news we looked at the weirdest things food brands made to celebrate the happy nuptials, and also looked into Whole Foods’ new savings program for Prime members.

Read on for what else you missed in food this week!

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Some weeks, meal planning is the only defense we have against eating out or hitting a drive-thru every single night. When our schedules are super busy or we just have a lot of fun stuff on the calendar, selecting a week’s worth of super-fast and easy recipes is the only way to ensure that dinner at home happens.

Twenty minutes seems about the perfect amount of time for a speedy dinner that tastes better than takeout but still gets us at the table and out the door in under an hour. Here are the five 20-minute, quick and easy dinners I’m making for my family this week.

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So you might’ve heard that there’s a wedding this weekend. Despite the fact that America legit fought a war to escape the British monarchy, seemingly every television channel that isn’t SyFy is breathlessly counting the minutes until Prince Charles walks Meghan Markle down the aisle and straight into the Royal Family. (And even that has been endlessly dissected: as of this morning, Meghan has decided that she’ll be walking her own self at least halfway down the aisle, because feminism).

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I believe Parmesan cheese can make nearly anything better. In this case, I am referring to boneless, skinless chicken breasts and kale — two things that can be hard to love sometimes, but trust me when I say you’ll love them here. It’s a chicken dinner that’s comforting and hearty, thanks to the sharp cheese and leafy kale, yet not a touch heavy, due to acidity of the white wine and a splash of lemon juice that finishes it off.

This one-skillet dinner feels both wholesome and special, which makes this a meal that fits the bill on any ol’ weeknight but also when you feel like pulling out the cloth napkins and pouring yourself a glass of that wine.

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