I recently took my 13-year old nephew to visit our nation’s capitol, including visiting Robert E. Lee’s house at Arlington National Cemetery, and a day wandering the battlefield at Gettysburg. The National Military Park Museum at Gettysburg is not to be missed, by the way. Not only does it give you a clear and thorough understanding of the 3-day battle that took place there, but the photos and relics on display give us a fascinating glimpse into what life must have been like back then....

I’m always looking for a compelling drink—and if it can feed me on a deeper level, so much the better. Case in point: I used to drink coffee, but many moons ago after my twins were born, I could not really drink it anymore. My stomach decided it was just NOT down with that level of acidity and despite the fact that I love the smell of it and sometimes still have decaf (and then usually regret it), I mostly switched to tea and more therapeutic beverages....

I give Chipotle Mexican Grill credit for inspiring my version, which came about out of desperation when their business hours didn’t jive with my cravings. What’s So Great About Chipotle’s Guacamole? Uh, everything! Whereas most chain restaurants’ guacamole seems to be squeezed from a plastic bag, or worse yet, scraped from an industrial tub, Chipotle’s guac is full of avocado chunks and speckled with fresh produce. For me, the selling points of Chipotle’s guacamole have always been the hint of spice from the jalapeños and that shot of lime that hits you in the back of your jaw (in the best way possible, of course)....

Corn also makes a fabulous salsa. Acidity from the salsa’s lime juice balances the sweetness of the corn. Along with some jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, and oregano, it’s a fiesta of flavor. Although not the kind of salsa that one can easily balance on a chip (though that doesn’t stop us from trying), it’s terrific as a side to any southwestern dishes like tacos and enchiladas, or a straight up side with chicken or steak....

Crème Anglaise: Simple Ingredients, Little Effort Similar to a vanilla custard, crème anglaise is made from egg yolks, sugar, milk, cream, and vanilla. But compared to a traditional vanilla custard or pudding, crème anglaise is thinner. It’s a velvety, pourable sauce used to accompany other desserts. Crème anglaise is a relatively easy, make-ahead upgrade to turn any dessert into a special occasion or elegant date-night. With just a little work ahead of time, you have a beautiful, homemade sauce to heighten any ordinary or store-bought dessert....

Unfortunately, limes don’t have the shelf life that we enjoy with lemons. A lime’s peel turns yellow and then brown fairly quickly, and limes tend to dry out sooner than you would expect (compared to lemons). Here is a zesty summer drink you can easily make with those extra limes! Limeade itself can be rather tart (though alone it is still one of my favorite drinks); adding a bit of cranberry juice, sour cherry, or pomegranate juice, can take the edge off the lime while adding another dimension of flavor....

And if you love this idea for your holiday table, make sure to check out our loaded mashed cauliflower and garlicky sautéed mushrooms and asparagus. A couple of our favorite holiday sides! Ingredients for dairy free green bean casserole This recipe calls for only minimal, real food ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need. BaconMushroomsFresh or frozen green beansGarlic, sea salt + pepperArrowroot flourFull fat coconut milk – the canned stuff with minimal ingredientsPlantain chips...

Dubu jorim is sliced and seared tofu that has been simmered in a sweet and slightly spicy soy-based sauce. Lightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s an easy-to-prepare side dish for breakfast, dinner, or a traditional Korean dosirak (packed lunch). Ingredients for Dubu Jorim Tofu is a non-meat protein made from soybeans. Its consistency can range from pudding-like silky tofu to the almost feta cheese-like texture of extra firm tofu....

It’s so versatile: Sprinkle it over dips for texture, rub it on meats and fish for flavor, or add it to stir fries. I like it best as a rub on salmon. This spice blend has chunky toasted hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, and sesame seeds and lots of bold spices like fennel, coriander, and cumin. What is Dukkah? Dukkah is a blend of warm spices and toasted nuts ground or pounded into a coarse powder that has lots of texture....

We usually have plenty of tomatoes and cucumbers growing in the garden, and all you have to do is toss in some red onions, olives, bell pepper, feta cheese, a few herbs, and some olive oil and vinegar and you have beautiful, cooling, fresh, Greek salad. All the best ingredients and flavors of Greek cuisine, all in one easy summer salad! What to Serve With Greek Salad You can serve this salad as a side for just about any of your summer favorites, like grilled chicken or grilled fish....

Do you like chicken? Then you’ll love garlic chicken, a classic recipe of chicken parts that have been browned in olive oil, then cooked with white wine and garlic. It’s also known as “40 Clove Chicken” because that’s how many garlic cloves you’ll use to make the dish. So, crazy right? 40 cloves? Here’s the thing. There’s something about the browning and stewing of the garlic that completely mellows it out....

This version falls somewhere in the middle. There’s nothing too adventurous about the stuffing, but the gouda cheese is a definite upgrade from cheddar or parmesan and melts beautifully in the mushrooms. The Best Mushrooms to Use for Stuffed Mushrooms When it comes to stuffed mushrooms, one element I don’t recommend upgrading is the actual mushroom itself. I use white button mushrooms. They are readily available, easy to prepare, and are the perfect size and texture for a stuffed mushroom....

The recipe I’m sharing today is one of my favorite versions. It has a bright strawberry and pineapple salsa that truly makes it taste of summer! I like to use sea bass for the fish in my tacos, but these are also fantastic with swordfish, halibut, or any other firm, hearty fish. The salsa is made with pineapple and bright, juicy summer strawberries. If strawberries aren’t in season where you live, you can use blackberries, peaches, or even kiwi....

Depending on what part of the country you’re from, you might think of this as savory bread pudding, breakfast strata, or breakfast casserole. No matter what you call it, this hearty make-ahead breakfast has everything going for it! This casserole is made by layering triangles of white bread in a dish with diced ham, sliced tomatoes, and grated cheese. Pour some eggs whisked with milk over top, then send it to the fridge overnight....

A good punch mixes together spirits, juice, and spices in a communal bowl with a ladle for filling up the cups. Guests serve themselves, and you can relax and enjoy the night as the glamorous doyenne you know you are. A Punch With Holiday Spirit This punch is a particular favorite of mine. It brings together winter flavors such as cranberry, orange, and cinnamon in a delightful drink that leaves you glowing with cheer....

That’s the way it should be said if you are anywhere in the vicinity of New England, which is the birthplace of this wonderful clam stew. The word “chowder” is thought to have been derived from “chaudière,” an old French term for cauldron, or a big cooking pot. What Goes Into Clam Chowder? Traditionally, chowder is made with salt pork, onions, potatoes, milk or cream, butter, and fish like cod or haddock, or clams....

Cake Batter Up! Funfetti cake is cake with rainbow sprinkles folded into the batter that when baked looks like confetti. That’s why it’s sometimes called confetti cake. It is almost always flavored with vanilla as I do in this recipe, but some bakers, like Molly Yeh, add almond extract to mimic the boxed cake. To ensure the sprinkles pop, the cake itself is typically white or yellow. Yellow cake uses whole eggs—the yolk gives it a yellow hue—while white cake, like in this recipe, relies only on the egg whites....

If you celebrate Rosh Hashanah, this would be a great dish to complement the meal. It incorporates honey, an ingredient that is commonly enjoyed for the Jewish holiday because it symbolizes a sweet new year. Tips for Roasting Carrots For the best roasted carrots, cut them as uniformly as possible. If some of the carrots are super thick while others are thin, they’re going to cook unevenly. To make them as close in size as possible, cut them all into roughly 3-inch long pieces....