I created this fruit cereal bar recipe to keep mornings simpler when time is tight. Last week Roo started secondary school, which means the school run now begins an hour earlier than before. Anticipating busier, cooler mornings, I wanted an easy, portable breakfast option that could be grabbed on the way out or eaten on … Read more

Recently I was invited to appear on the relatively new podcast The Mad Mamluks. The conversation was a lot of fun — lively, food-focused, and full of good questions from the three energetic brothers who created and produce the show: Amir Saeed, a scholar of Shariah from Al-Azhar University; Syed Imran Muneer (SIM), an IT … Read more

Three easy container gardening ideas for sunny spots using common garden-center plants, plus practical planting and maintenance tips so your flower pots thrive all season. Includes a printable checklist to take to the store. This article is sponsored by Gilmour, whose watering tools I use and recommend. One of my favorite spring rituals is a … Read more

The weekend is the perfect time to preheat your oven, roll up your sleeves, and fill the house with the comforting aromas of freshly baked treats — especially if you’re celebrating World Baking Day. To help you make the most of your baking weekend, here are my top 10 delicious desserts to bake. Each recipe … Read more

Ten hot food ideas that you can pack into a food flask or thermos and send to school for a warm lunch for kids As the weather cools, sending children to school with a warm lunch is a comforting and practical option. Hot lunches add variety to daily meal prep and are often more filling, … Read more

You get to sit in on what became a college-level class in food history and nutrition label reading! This interview is energetic and informative, designed to feed both your curiosity and your care for family health. Becky Wells of Hippie Moms is dedicated to helping parents understand their food and build a solid foundation for … Read more

Make Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce to spoon over spaghetti or to add a cozy fall twist to favorite dishes. This rich, alfredo-style sauce comes together in about 10 minutes, uses mostly pantry staples, and is low in carbs. This simple pumpkin sauce gives an autumn makeover to dishes like lasagna and mac and cheese. It … Read more

Is there anything a warm, sugar-coated donut can’t fix? I put that to the test the morning my daughter Lila burst into my bedroom in tears because she couldn’t find me. She had been pacing the house looking for me while I thought she was peacefully asleep. After that little parenting fail, we spent a … Read more

After twenty years of moving with the Army, my husband is retiring. That’s wonderful news, and it also means it’s time to sort and consolidate the furniture we’ve collected during our marriage. Our pieces are a varied mix: 1950s Louis XV-style furniture from France, Old Americana antiques, a few hand-me-downs from our childhoods (not antique … Read more

Bee sting cake is a classic German dessert: a light yeasted cake topped with a honey-almond glaze and filled with a creamy, sweet pastry cream—an excellent choice for Oktoberfest or any celebration. When my friend Milena invited me to join her Oktoberfest Bash recipe roundup, I immediately said yes. Planning festive Oktoberfest recipes with blogger … Read more