The other day, when I asked my sister what kind of soup she wanted for dinner, she quickly replied lentil. I researched some recipes and started chopping vegetables. Later when we sat down to dinner I realized she was only kidding! Luckily the soup was hearty and delicious and my entire family enjoyed it. The original recipe has you puree the soup, but I left it chunky for texture. The croutons Read more

Sometimes I wonder what the Top Chef judges eat in real life. Are they always 100 percent gourmet? Well it turns out our friend Gail Simmons likes to munch on granola. — Mouthing Off Read more

In my opinion, one can never have too many cookie cutters. They come in such a wide variety of fun shapes and sizes that I find myself investing in a new one each time I make a batch of cookies. For this chocolate shortbread cookie recipe, I'll be getting a bat-shaped cookie cutter. A witch hat, tombstone, or black cat would be fabulous as well. Whatever shape you choose, indulge in this tasty Read more

One of the girls here at the Sugar HQ recently received several boxes of black and white cookies. She grew up on Long Island and desperately missed the quintessentially New York treat. Luckily she shared the cookies with me, and I instantly fell in love! I immediately knew I wanted to find a recipe and give this classic east coast treat a try in my San Francisco kitchen. I got even more excited Read more

Eating a perfectly cooked pizza margherita at an outdoor cafe on the streets of Naples is a luxury that I am lucky enough to have experienced. However, just because you won't be heading to Southern Italy anytime soon doesn't mean you can't enjoy a deliciously simple pizza. I've found two stimulating recipes: one for the novice cook, and another for the foodie elitist. However, both recipes Read more

Nothing says early fall more than apple pie. However, I want to surprise my fall dinner party guests, so instead of making classic apple pie or apple crisp, I'll make an apple buckle. A buckle is a simple streusel topped cake similar to a dessert coffee cake. It is typically made with summer fruits, but this nontraditional version wonderfully showcases fall apples. It will pair perfectly with a Read more

You don't have to save fun, festive, and ethnic meals for the weekend. Instead, spice up a weeknight with quick fix versions like this Asian inspired basil chicken curry. Packed with full flavors, tonight's dish is a balanced meal that's both exotic and delicious. Chicken cutlets are cooked in a tasty coconut curry sauce and then piled on a pillow of coconut basmati rice. Peanuts add a much Read more

Pizza how do I love thee! While many people turn to sandwiches or pasta for their favorite quick fix meal, I turn to my beloved pizza. Trader Joe's makes an excellent pizza dough that keeps for a few weeks in the freezer or fridge. Tonight's version is a classic veggie with sautéed mushrooms and zucchini. If you want pizza, but still feel like grilling, before topping the pie, grill the veggies Read more