Backyard gardens filled our plates and pantries all summer long. And just as August bore down and we didn’t think it could get hotter, the weather broke. The garden crescendoed into a tangle of vines past their prime as the days shortened and the nights turned cool. It was a unique time, a bleeding from one season to the other—the tomatoes staying green longer, the cukes getting seedier. The final assignment on the pantry to-do list was a celebration of the shoulder season: chow chow....

This recipe is a newer variation using grapefruit juice or soda. Even with just two ingredients, it’s a super quick and simple cocktail that doesn’t hold back on flavor. Grapefruit and Beer Recommendations Grapefruit juice or soda instead of the lemon soda or lemonade will lend your shandy a sweet and sour flavor with just a touch of floral aroma. Whether you use fresh grapefruit juice, store-bought grapefruit juice, or sparkling grapefruit soda, all pair well with a light, lager-style beer....

Lemon Spaghetti I am obsessed with pretty much any pasta, but this recipe has a special place in my heart. The lemon and basil combo is just chef’s kiss. It is such a great summer dish because it is so light! Plus, you don’t have to turn on the stove and heat up the house. You don’t use any heavy creams or sauces, just bright, fresh ingredients. You won’t believe how quickly it comes together....

Disneyland Restaurants We’ve teamed up with our partners at Get Away Today to share some delicious, newer Disneyland restaurants that you won’t want to miss on your next Disneyland family vacation. Tropical Hideaway The Tropical Hideaway is located in Disneyland Park in Adventureland, where Aladdin Musical Spectacular used to be. With vegetarian options included on the menu, it is a great choice for many guests. The Tropical Hideaway is a quick service restaurant in Adventureland, meaning it is not a sit-down dining experience....

Yes, this $13 cookbook stand. I am a big fan. What’s in a cookbook stand, you ask? This one is compact, collapsible, and has little rubber-tipped “hands” that keep pages open and flat; it has five positions, so you can find the best viewing angle for you; it’ll fit any size cookbook (or a phone, an iPad, or even just a recipe printed on a sheet of paper!); and the whole thing is made of sturdy, smooth bamboo....

Red bean tangyuan is a deliciously warm and lightly sweet Chinese dessert. The soft and chewy balls have a mochi-like texture and the adzuki red bean filling adds creamy sweetness. Tangyuan can be made with a variety of fillings like sesame or peanut, and are commonly served with a gingery soup that adds a warm brightness. The Red Bean Filling Red bean, also known as adzuki or azuki bean, is a small and smooth bean with a reddish skin and white interior....

Pretty much anything can go into fried rice—usually a combination of veggies, beaten egg, and a protein such as the shrimp we are using in this recipe, or chicken, fish, or tofu. This recipe for Shrimp Fried Rice comes from my dear friend Jaden of SteamyKitchen.com. She learned how to make the best fried rice from her mother (after a rather funny failed attempt when she was a teen). It’s super easy, and comes together in less than half an hour....

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But even though spring tempts us with flowering dogwoods and daffodils, there’s still plenty enough blustery cool weather for a good stew! This spring lamb stew takes advantage of the young green garlic you can find at farmers markets, peas, and new potatoes. What takes it over the top is the flavoring that comes from adding a couple of heads of roasted garlic to the stock. This lamb stew is also a easy on the budget, using “off” cuts like shoulder and stewing chunks (we bought 4 pounds of lamb stew meat for $10 at Whole Foods)....

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Cooking Bacon in the Air Fryer Bacon belongs in it’s own food group, would you agree? It goes with anything for breakfast, it’s the perfect topping on sandwiches or burgers for lunch, and it’s delicious crumbled and sprinkled on top of a salad, soup, or a baked potato for dinner Air Fryer’s have become very popular over the last few years, and for many good reasons. They give food the crispiness of oil frying, without the oil, and food cooks more evenly....

Apple cinnamon rolls consist of pillowy brioche dough, cinnamon apple filling, and maple cream cheese frosting. Their sweet, warming flavors make them the perfect comfort food for chilly fall weather. The process of making cinnamon rolls takes a few hours (most of it hands-off), so it is a nice activity for a relaxing weekend at home. Serve apple cinnamon rolls for dessert or as an indulgent breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea....

Avocado is at the top of my list. Yes of course there are other favorites—artichokes, blueberries, a good steak—but avocado is queen of them all. As long as I can remember, my family has always had avocados in the house, either out on the counter ripening, or in the fridge. For a couple glorious years we even had an avocado tree, until it died in a freeze. :-( So no wonder my father’s most treasured sandwich is, as he affectionately calls it, the A....

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Loaded Baked Potato Soup This isn’t your ordinary potato soup. This soup is made with mashed up baked potatoes, onion, celery, and stock, puréed and then topped with classic baked potato toppings like crumbled crispy bacon, grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, and chives. It’s truly a loaded baked potato soup. My father, being the potato-craving German he is and therefore completely biased, raved about this soup. Of course he did. How could he not?...

Toss the shelled, blanched peas with some aromatic basmati rice, minced fresh mint leaves, a little lemon zest and juice, and a handful of raisins or currants and you have a delightful rice salad, which can double as a side for curry. Don’t like raisins? Use currants, chopped dried apricots, or leave them out entirely. Sprinkle with some toasted cashews to the salad for added crunch. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let steam for 10 minutes....

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Cheesy Potato Casserole (Funeral Potatoes) Cheesy Potato Casserole is better known to many as Funeral Potatoes, not because you only eat them at funerals, but because they’re a staple for feeding large groups of people. Nearly every church potluck dinner, large family gathering or luncheon I’ve ever attended features several pans of this cheesy potato dish alongside a ham, salad and rolls. There are dozens of variations to this recipe, but this one is our tried and true....