I have always enjoyed being in the kitchen baking and making unique dishes. Over the last few years or so, my kids and I have looked more at what we put into our bodies and have tried to make healthier choices. We also like to make new creations in the healthiest ways. Here are a few things we like and recommend you give them a try!
Every time I hosted, I spent the first hour in the kitchen while everyone else was laughing in the living room. I was chopping, stirring, panicking about whether the dip was too thick. If you're the person who throws parties but never actually attends them, this is everything I use to prep dips the night before and just set them out when people show up. Took me about six gatherings of stress-sweating to figure this lineup out.
Every Tuesday I'd stare at chicken breast and pasta like they personally offended me — same bland meals on repeat because I was too tired to do anything fancy. Turns out the fix wasn't a new recipe, it was better olive oil. If you're someone who wants dinner to taste like you tried without actually trying, this took me a year of ordering small-batch bottles to narrow down.
A list of delicious go-to restaurants when ordering in - family in town/large groups. Vegan & Vegetarian options included. DMV area: Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
Spent three weeks eating through Romanian villages and small towns — came back ten pounds heavier and genuinely mad that nobody talks about this cuisine. If you love hearty, slow-cooked food but you're tired of the same Italian-French-Spanish rotation every trip, this is the Romania food guide I wish someone handed me before I went. Saving you the weeks of research I did so you can just eat.
As someone who loves to cook and post their recipes, having a kitchen with curated cutlery, appliances, and cookware is essential. Here is a roundup of my most coveted kitchen products.
Peeling jicama with a regular peeler is a nightmare. The skin is thick, the blade slips, and you end up reaching for a knife that feels one wrong move from the ER. If you cook with a lot of root vegetables, squash, or tropical produce and you're tired of white-knuckling it through prep, this is the lineup I landed on after going through way too many flimsy peelers and close calls.
Growing up in Florida, my love for southern comfort foods became the inspiration to create dishes that provide those belly warming, good feels. Jam packed full of flavors, textures and deliciousness. Just a warning! I do not claim this rec list to be healthy at ALL! 😆
Six cities I work, and places I've actually sat down and eaten in all of them. Some are for a buyer dinner, some are for the night you're on your own and don't want another hotel bar burger. Reservation situation is in the notes where it matters, because half of these you cannot walk into on a Friday.
There's nothing I love more than a one-pot meal for easy clean-up! These are my favorite one pot recipes that I continually make over and over again. Be sure to try one out for your next dinner! Most are ready in under 30min as well!
Spending two hours wrestling dough on a Friday night only to end up with flat, sauce-sliding pasta shapes is nobody's idea of relaxing. This list is for the home cook who wants to make real handmade pasta, gnocchi, and ravioli without it feeling like a punishment. Took me a full year of trial and error to land on these, so you can skip straight to the good stuff.
If trying new restaurants were a hobby, it would be mine. There’s so many food spots & local businesses all over the San Antonio area, here’s some places I recommend to check out.
This list will be updated as I find new spots to eat good food. If you’re craving something specific, check out the sections as they are organized by cuisine.
Love, a foodie. 🤌🏼
These are the Raleigh spots that never miss — the hidden gems, comfort-food classics, and weekend favorites that make this city feel like home. Whether we’re grabbing brunch, catching a vibe with friends, or finding a new date-night spot, these are the places where good food meets good company (and great memories).
We have been dye-free for almost 4 years now! It’s hard at the beginning to find replacements (especially when you have kids) for your favorite sweets and snacks. Here are our favorite alternatives. Truly hopes this helps someone!
How do you pick a great bottle of wine from all the choices you have right in front of you? Don’t worry, I got you! Here are some of my favorites that you can buy on or off the shelf!
Welcome to the Sip Societe! Whether you're sober, sober curious, or just seeing what these beverages are all about…these are my essentials. I always have these on hand. And pretty glassware is SO important to me. Glassware completes the ritual of crafting, pouring and sipping your drink. At Sip Societe, we are all about the ritual 🫶🏼
After living in Frisco for over 2 years, I've scoped out quite a few great restaurants and coffee shops. I will regularly add more as I try new places(:
A tasty roundup of gluten-free snacks, meals, and comfort foods that make eating easy, delicious, and totally stress-free. Perfect for everyday meals or a little treat-yourself moment!
A mix of everyday staples and little indulgences — think go-to snacks and pantry must-haves that make throwing together meals (or midnight snacks) effortless. Basically, all the things I can’t live without in my fridge and pantry.
I'm not the best in the kitchen, but I do like to keep track of my favorite recipes - I'm a creature of habit so I refer to these over and over again. I'm also always on the go, so most of these can be whipped up pretty quickly!
December bedtimes used to be a full-on battle. Sugar-hyped kids, holiday excitement, zero cooperation. Then I started the hot cocoa bomb ritual and suddenly they're racing to put on pajamas by 6:45. If you've got little ones who fight sleep all month long, this lineup turned our chaotic evenings into the coziest part of the day. Grab these before November ends because the good ones sell out fast.
These are some of the best seasonal snacks and drinks I have found and tried that I highly recommend to you. Some of these you can get more frequently than others but you can usually get anything online 😉
Food and drink favorites from a Knoxville native. I have lived in Knoxville for over 20 years and enjoy a distinctive ambience while dining. I’ve compiled a list of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops with a special kind of charm that keep customers coming back for more!
No trendy diets or overwhelming rules - just cookbooks and nutrition books that make healthy eating feel doable. These are the ones I come back to for simple meals, balanced blood sugar, and realistic guidance that actually fits real life.
My go-to Costco finds for a low-toxin lifestyle. These are the pantry staples, household products, and better-ingredient swaps I personally buy for my family.
There are literally thousands of options for restaurants in NYC but I wanted to share some of my personal favorites! Here's my rubric and what I look for in a good restaurant.
Factors/considerations that went into this list: - uniqueness of dishes (how interesting are the dishes?)
- price point / value (do I feel like these are fairly priced for what it is?)
- quality (what my tummy says obvs)
- accessibility (how easy is it to get a seat?)
As a girl allergic to all the grains themselves making me gluten free and also being allergic to oats, heres my favorite food recs!! These are gluten free, oat free, grain free because gluten free can mean a lot of different things!
For those visiting Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, this is your go-to food guide for the area. From sweet treats to lunch dates to steak dinners, this has everything you need to organize your trip and indulge in all the local eats and produce.
I am the biggest fan of a good sweet treat, but I also know my body doesn’t tolerate the gluten, dairy, & refined sugars that come with classic holiday desserts. These are my favorite recipes to make around the holiday season that the whole fam can enjoy, including me!
(My substitutions if you see “normal” ingredients:
Flour —> gf flour or oat flour
Sugar —> coconut sugar
Eggs —> flax eggs
Veg Oil —> applesauce)
When my kid comes home hangry from school it’s nice to have healthy snacks for him to grab! This list has breakfast options (because we’re normally running late), options to pack into their lunches and after school snacks!
Come take a look if you love cooking, baking and everything beyond ✨
These are my list of all things useful and some cutesy, too 🥰
I like to cook asian and western food. I love kitchen tools that's long lasting, useful and look pretty, too 💅🏻
“Kings are fed by the field.” That truth has stayed with me — because no matter who we are, real wealth still begins with the soil.
I don’t naturally have a green thumb, but I’ve learned that getting my hands dirty is less about perfection and more about connection. Growing food grounds me, slows me down, and reminds me where nourishment truly comes from.
Grounded Living is my personal collection of tools that support growing food, caring for the body, and living closer to the earth. Whether you garden on acres, a balcony, or a small backyard, your reason — your why, where, or how— matters.
To me, growing your own food isn’t just sustainability. It’s wellness. It’s independence. It’s wealth in its most honest form.
Christmas morning breakfast is one of my favorite family traditions, with waffles, fresh coffee, and everyone still in pajamas. These are the waffle makers, griddles, coffee makers, and serving pieces that make our holiday brunch easy and festive, so I can spend more time with family and less time in the kitchen. Tell me your family's Christmas breakfast tradition in the comments!
(This list contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)
Spent three trips wandering Manila, Cebu, and Davao with a growling stomach and zero plan — came back with a list of exactly what to hunt down and what to bring home so you can stop guessing from YouTube videos. If you're planning a Philippines trip or just craving something beyond lumpia at your local spot, this saves you the weeks of Reddit rabbit holes I fell into.
peek inside my kitchen food essentials—this list is filled with the staples I keep stocked in my pantry and fridge to keep our family healthy & fueled. most of our pantry favorites come from Thrive Market to ensure we have cleaner snacks.
I started baking and cooking when I was 7/8 with my mom and dad but now that I am 10, I am allowed to do things by myself in the kitchen. I really like making things for my family
Grocery shopping with a kid who has food allergies used to mean reading every single label for twenty minutes, squinting at tiny print, and still wondering if I missed something. If you're the parent who dreads birthday party snack tables and has accidentally brought home the wrong brand twice — here's every app, tool, and allergy-safe product that finally let me shop without a knot in my stomach. Took me two scary reactions and a year of trial and error so you don't have to repeat my mistakes.
Blend, Sip, GO! Smoothie Staples for Busy Mornings. Working full time with two boys means breakfast has to be FAST. These are the blenders, cups, freezer helpers and protein add-ins that get a real, filling smoothie into my hand (and into my boys) before school, work and T-ball. Everything here earns its counter space!
Everything you need to brew authentic Vietnamese coffee at home: a classic phin filter, bold robusta coffee beans, and sweetened condensed milk. Make rich, slow-dripped ca phe sua da just like your favorite cafe — your kitchen is about to smell amazing!
This list features the most Instagram-worthy restaurants known for stunning aesthetics, beautiful plates, and unforgettable vibes. From stylish cafés and themed dining rooms to rooftop hotspots and visually striking dishes, these spots are perfect for food lovers who appreciate ambiance as much as flavor. Whether you're traveling or exploring locally, each restaurant here delivers photo-ready moments and a dining experience worth sharing.
I personally love seeing what other people keep in their pantries and fridges at all times, so here's my list of staples! A lot of them you can find anywhere, but a few are local favorites that I highly recommend you look into ordering online. I've also included how I like to use each item which may give you a few ideas as well!
Packing lunch at 6 AM and cracking open lukewarm soup at noon is the saddest desk experience. If you eat at your desk, commute long distances, or just refuse to microwave things in the break room because someone always reheated fish in there, this is the gear that actually keeps food hot, organized, and worth eating. Took me two years of disappointing thermoses to land on these.
This collection is full of everything I reach for on a cozy night in—fun treats to snack on, sweet indulgences, and little comfort items that make the evening feel special🎃
If you've been baking sourdough that tastes amazing but looks like a sad blob, you know the frustration. I spent a year buying random proofing baskets and scoring tools that fell apart or left no pattern at all. This is the exact lineup that finally got me those spiral ring patterns and crispy ears people lose their minds over on Instagram. Took me way too many flat loaves to figure this out, so save yourself the trouble.
Central Florida taco culture goes way past the drive-thru - Jalisco-style street tacos on OBT, Korean-Latin mashups in Mills 50, and family taquerias tucked into Kissimmee strip malls that locals guard like secrets. These are the spots I actually drive across town for, plus a couple of kitchen upgrades for taco night at home.
After testing more kitchen gadgets than I can count, I’ve learned exactly what separates the gimmicks from the game-changers. These are the tools that actually earn their place on the counter—smart designs, reliable performance, and that rare “how did I ever cook without this?” feeling. If I’m recommending it, it’s because it’s survived real kitchens, real recipes, and the kind of everyday use that only a true cooking obsessive puts things through.
For those of us who want to make great coffee without spending hundreds of dollars on equipment… I spend enough on beans 😬
I’ve included some bonus upgrade recommendations as well!
Life happens, coffee helps. 🖤
From favorite coffee spots and cozy cups to little things that make coffee at home even better, this is a collection of all things coffee I enjoy and recommend.
Even though I’ve only lived in the DC area for a few years now, I’ve made up for lost time by eating out way too much. The amount of diverse food options around here is exciting! Keeping this list mostly to places you could get to with public transportation.
All my favorite places on Oahu, HI!! 🌈☀️ some are in Honolulu, but I lived on the north shore so most recs are for around there :) if you want any more specific recs just comment and I’ll be happy to add some!!
Skip the coffee shop line and bring your favorite drinks home. Whether you're making iced lattes, matcha, or caramel macchiatos, these are some of my favorite coffee bar essentials to create café-quality drinks right from your kitchen.
🍪✨ As the holiday season rolls in, I can't help but unleash my inner baker – and I know I'm not alone! From festive cookie exchanges to cozy potlucks and even a friendly neighborhood "bakeoff," it's a baking bonanza. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started in the kitchen like me, this list is my go-to for inspiration. Let's sprinkle some joy and sugar this season – happy baking, friends! 🎅🏽🍰 #BakingMagic #HolidayTreats #BakingFun
As someone who is born n raised in boise, idaho i have been around town many times trying all the amazing food places we have to offer. With Idaho growing I want to share the places that hit home for me and satisfy all my cravings!🍜🍪🍸
We began ditching dyes a few years ago. Now, we're a dye free household. I see and hear people saying they don't know how to get started. Here's the products we buy to replace all the ones with dye (particularly Red40 and Blue)
As a child I always loved pancake days. Every time there were special occasions like Christmas or birthdays our go-to breakfast would be pancakes with bacon or sausages, and for some scrambled eggs (If I’m honest I never liked scrambled eggs of any kind). So let’s go on this journey of boxed pancake mixes and make a some delicious memories with the people you love. Fasten your seatbelts and let’s go…..
As a student living abroad, I seek familiar taste and or cuisine and that makes me miss my home. These place that I tried is affordable for students as well as someone who enjoys asian food like myself in a foreign land.
favorite norcal + la restaurants perfect for tourists and solo travelers coming to california for their first time. 🌴 from hidden gems to iconic spots, these picks are all about great vibes, unforgettable flavors, and easy solo dining. whether you’re craving fresh coastal eats, cozy cafés, or vibrant street food, these places give you a true taste of california.
Gift giving is one of my love languages! As a teacher, I love making sure that my co-workers feel appreciated, especially during the holiday season! Here are my recommendations for what to pick up when building burr baskets for your (teacher) besties! I can't wait to deliver my burr baskets to my teammates/co-workers! ☃️🎁