I say this without the slightest touch of hyperbole: The highlight of my 3-year-old’s week is a trip to the farmers market. Ditto with the grocery store. Avi loves produce like no child I’ve ever met. In case you think I’m painting a one-dimensional, fawning picture of a toddler who loves all food in its …
Every other month, I gather with a dozen or so women to share dishes we’ve made from a specific cookbook. Mind you, usually, I make the kind of food that qualifies as “easy weeknight meals,” meaning it uses ingredients I tend to already have, requires a minimal number of pots, and keeps well so I …
I make sweets and treats for a living, and yet have somehow managed to raise two boys who much prefer store-bought goodies to homemade. Despite the fact that there is often a freshly baked pie on my kitchen counter and a cream-filled one in the fridge; that the cookie jar is always full of butterscotch …
Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes Are This Pastry Chef’s Secret Weapon Read More »
“I can do it!” Outside of, say, “Daddy, my head’s bleeding,” are there any four words more dreaded by the modern parent? Trimming her toenails? “I can do it.” Buckling her seatbelt? “I can do it.” Pushing the shopping cart? “I can do it.” Flambéing bananas Foster? “I CAN DO IT.” As the ultimate decider about who actually gets to …
Lessons Learned from a Road-Trip Frankensandwich Read More »
My 4-year-old hates cheese. He’ll happily tell you all about it, enthusiastically sharing his revulsion with anyone who’ll listen. “I don’t eat cheese! It’s soooooo gross!” is his go-to declaration. His preference is pretty unremarkable, considering toddlers aren’t exactly renowned for their omnivorism, but it cuts deep: For the past 17 years, I’ve made my …
My preschooler bit into the scoop of pistachio ice cream perched on his waffle cone and looked thoughtful. “It has pieces in it,” he said. “The other one was smooth.” Sitting on a bench overlooking a piazza in northern Italy, our family swapped flavors, critiqued textures and compared the frozen treats to the dozens that …
Ever noticed how excited everyone gets for taco night—even the toddler who only nibbles the crunchy shell and eats half a cherry tomato? Granted, Mexican food, whether it’s uber-authentic with hand-rolled tortillas or made in a pinch with a box of Old El Paso, is delicious. But I’d venture that the appeal of taco night …
A DIY Approach to Dinner Lets the Whole Family Play Chef Read More »
It’s bad enough to have kids get mouthy about meals at home. But when their beaming Nonna presents them with a pot of stew she’s been cooking all day and they take one look and insult it with a cry of “Yuck!”—well, it makes you want to stow away in the landing gear of the …
When my 2-year-old daughter polished off a plateful of haggis fritters, I wasn’t sure whether to groan or cheer. Instead, I stayed quiet and took a photo. I want my children to be adventurous eaters—and I’ve learned that often the best way to get your kids to open their mouths is to keep yours shut. …
Yes, My Daughter Really Eats Haggis. Here’s Why. Read More »
My 4-year-old daughter recently got it in her head that she really wanted to try washing dishes. Our family is living in Rome for a year, and in our tiny efficiency kitchen, dishes fall into one of two categories: those that go into the dishwasher, and those really messy ones that need to be done …
How to Actually Let Go and Enjoy Your Kid’s Help In the Kitchen Read More »
