How to get the most out of hosting
Dazzling guests with a perfectly prepared meal is always the goal when deciding to open your home to friends and family, but it sometimes can be a stressful experience. Following a few simple tips from a chef who knows a little bit about entertaining guests at high-profile events can help put you at ease when planning your next big get-together.

Make summer super with potluck-perfect recipes
From block parties to backyard barbecues, summer is when people get together and enjoy the delectable tastes of the season. The classic American potluck is always a favorite gathering, especially when friends, family and neighbors bring out their best dishes for everyone to enjoy.

Turn a gourmet kitchen into a chef's studio
Does your kitchen feel more like Julie's than Julia's? No need to be concerned ... if Julie could learn to master the art of cooking in less than a year, you can design your own chef's studio in a fraction of that time. Follow Julie's footsteps and take your lead from those who know kitchens best - professional chefs.

Grilling tips to keep home fires burning safely
Summer is here and so is grilling season. Before firing up the grills, however, weekend warriors should observe a few simple precautions to ensure that backyard barbecue bashes don't go up in flames.

Forty-nine million reasons to test your drinking water
Clean water is essential to life and long-term health - and the United States enjoys some of the safest, cleanest drinking water in the world. However, a recent study shows that up to 20 percent of U.S. water violates the Safe Drinking Water Act - a federal law meant to ensure water quality.

Planning advice for creating the perfect reunion
Every five years your high school or college class has a good reason to celebrate - and you can celebrate with a reunion party.

Organic products: better for you and the earth
Protecting the earth means using it wisely, a concept that extends to virtually all aspects of life, from the emergence of renewable fuels to the conservation of plants and species.

Before you plan your next summer BBQ - find out how take it from drab to fab
While most of us can plan and host a summer barbecue with our eyes closed, it's easy to fall into a rut of whipping up the same old menu and breaking out the basic decorations. This year, learn how to put a modern twist on your summer fete.

Five burger-building secrets to thrill grilling fans
You may switch things up with salmon or add variety with veggies, but when it comes right down to it, the burger is still king of summer grilling. Here are an expert's tips for creating gourmet burgers at home.

Gifts people love to open again and again
Looking for a gift for the person who has everything? Don't succumb to gift cards, baseball hats, and t-shirts. Instead, be creative and try a gift like a 1- to 12-month wine club gift or even wine-related accessory to round out your shopping, and the recipient will surely be impressed.

Easy cherry recipes are a sweet start to summer
The pleasures of summer -- its warm temperatures, its long days, its holidays and its bounty of fresh foods -- make it an infinitely lovable season. It's no wonder we look forward to it throughout the rest of the year. Many people plant fruits and vegetables in late spring, after the last danger of frost has passed, but the wait to harvest those treats can be long. Luckily, a bounty of fruit is ready at the start of summer, in the form of sweet Bing cherries.

Simple, sophisticated snacks and drinks for summer
Summer is the season for entertaining, but there isn't any reason you have to slave away in a hot kitchen in order to throw a sophisticated summer party.

Choose happy foods, not foods that make you sad
"Grab the ice cream and bring on the chocolate!" While this may be a typical response to a bad mood for many, studies have shown that eating junk food can actually make you feel even worse. In fact, there are both physical and emotional side effects of chowing down on unhealthy foods that may make you want to rethink your decision to overindulge.

The spices of life: Six seasonings that promote good health
Eating well - choosing healthful, nutritious foods that also taste great - can be a challenge. Don't you wish there was something simple you could do for your health - something that might also make it easier to eat healthy foods? There is - simply spice things up.

Summer dishes sweetened with Vidalia onions
It's Vidalia onion season and time to sweeten summer recipes. Summer salads, marinades, side dishes and grilled meats can all be given new dimension with the original sweet onion.

Planning a road trip? Here are 5 tips for packing food to bring along
Planning a road trip this summer to see a part of the great U.S.A. you've never been to before? If so, there's a lot of planning to do. You need to figure out which route to take, what attractions you want to visit along the way and where you'll spend each night away from home -- not to mention what to bring.

How to self-publish a cookbook
Thanks to the Internet, creating a self-published cookbook is a simple and inexpensive project. You don't need formal culinary training programs to accomplish this project. With the right dedication, anyone can do it.

Fresh ways to savor sweet corn, all day long
It's a wonderful time of year. The birds are singing, flowers are blooming and the sweet corn crop is heading your way.

Five creative tips for packing healthier school lunches
It's that time of year again: back-to-school season. Amidst the jam-packed schedule of a child's school day, it's nice to know there is one area where parents make a difference - lunchtime. The mission is to create a nutritious lunch that your hungry kids will look forward to eating.

Creating great food memories
Your memory of real, flavorful, fresh food is a key tool for losing weight. At least that's one of the intriguing claims in Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough's new book, "Real Food Has Curves: How to Get off Processed Food, Lose Weight, and Love What You Eat."

Need a healthy meal idea? Just open the cupboard
Even on busy nights, when you may be tempted to hit the drive-through, cooking at home with simple ingredients from your pantry is a more nutritious, cost-effective and quicker solution when dinnertime rolls around.

The sweetest season: delicious and easy summer desserts
Summer is a time of traditions - people travel to the same resorts year after year, host annual barbeques, and go back time and time again to enjoy their favorite summer treats. It's hard to think of summer without thinking of favorite food traditions - such as grandma's strawberry pie or a s'more around a campfire.

Fresh ideas for elegant outdoor entertaining
When it comes to having friends and family over for summer gatherings, first thoughts often turn to late afternoon barbecues with sizzling burgers, plastic cups and paper plates. If that's your idea of outdoor entertaining, maybe it's time to get out of the house.

Cooking more at home? 4 easy ways to spice things up
If you like to cook, there's a pretty good chance you're doing more of it now. With the economy slowly recovering and families rediscovering the value of gathering around the dinner table, more people are skipping restaurants and honing their skills as home chefs.

Great dishes for a carefree, casual feast
Casual, laid back dining with family and friends is definitely a must for outdoor gatherings and what's more relaxed than a utensil-free feast? Think beyond burgers, and serve up some party favorites that work well without a fork and knife. Great tasting finger foods, like bruschetta, dips and quesadillas, can make backyard bashes easy, fun and flavorful.

How to make your family room into a personal theater
Until now, there's been nothing quite like the experience of catching your favorite flick in the theater, but today's technology makes it possible to bring the magic of the theater experience to your home. Each year, home theater equipment becomes more sophisticated and affordable, allowing more homeowners to turn their family rooms into screening rooms.

Potluck planning tips take the stress out of entertaining
Hosting a potluck dinner is a great way to ensure that all your guests will have something they enjoy, while taking the pressure off of you, the host or hostess, to prepare that perfect meal all by yourself. When your guests bring a dish with them, you can escape from a day spent in the kitchen and spend more time relaxing, preparing and actually enjoying the pleasure of entertaining.

Creatively cut the fat: substitute with apples
Looking to eat better? Tried low-fat and reduced-sodium products, but they just don't taste the same? If you want to modify your diet without giving up the tastes you love, substituting natural ingredients, rather than modified versions of unhealthy ingredients, could do the trick.

Healthy habits: Boosting fiber in your child's diet
With a looming childhood obesity epidemic, many physicians and dieticians are emphasizing the importance of fiber in children's diets. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who eat plenty of fiber are less likely to develop obesity, heart disease and gastrointestinal problems, including constipation.

Your fridge can help you stay on track with healthy eating this summer
Summer is here, and the key to making the most of the season is to ensure you feel your best. Although there are many tempting, calorie-laden foods at your disposal during the season, it can be easy to fill your diet with foods that are tasty and healthy. A good place to start is in your refrigerator. The contents of your fridge can either sandbag or support your healthy eating habits.

Protecting the environment, one cattle farm at a time
Cattle ranchers and farmers are considered to be one of the greenest professions from a diverse list of jobs, according to a recent survey. Cattle ranchers were selected as the third greenest profession from a diverse list of jobs, with park rangers topping the list. In fact, 86 percent of those surveyed think that cattle farmers and ranchers are committed to environmental preservation.

Tempting summer meals that are healthy and easy to make
Once the warm weather arrives, we are all searching for ways to make our meals not only healthy, but refreshing and delicious. And we all want quick meal options - so that we can spend more time outside enjoying the weather with friends and family and less time in the kitchen.

Create your own relaxing outdoor oasis this summer
It's summer time again and the living is easy - at least it's supposed to be. But when mosquitos invade your yard, it's tough to enjoy fun in the sun. Lasting summer memories often begin with a pleasant environment in your own backyard. But the first step is keeping the mosquitoes at bay.

Fall grilling spices up family mealtime
The end of summer doesn't mean you need to head indoors to cook your meals. The ease of operating gas grills ensures that grilling is a great way to prepare a meal any time of year, and seasonal food can inspire grillers to try new recipes.

How to get the full NASCAR experience in your living room
As NASCAR hits its peak in the midst of the 2010 Sprint Cup Series, masses of fans will make their way to the races. But if you can't score tickets and sitting in traffic isn't quite your speed, why not try living the race experience away from the speedway with a group of friends?

Want to get kids into the kitchen? Start simple, encourage creativity
Experts agree that getting children involved with cooking has many benefits - from getting them to try new foods and learning about nutrition, to providing bonding time with other family members. No matter what age you begin introducing your child to culinary skills, keep in mind it's best to start simple and with foods that are already familiar to them.

Easy entertaining tips to shape up your home for any occasion
Do you love the idea of entertaining, but feel like getting your home ready for a social event requires too much time and attention? Not to worry, there are a few easy things you can do to make sure your home is always ready to host guests and they may not be as difficult to accomplish as you think.

Seven tips for making your outdoor event a sizzling success
Warm weather and longer days mean people are spending more time outdoors. Why not use the beauty of nature to your advantage and choose to entertain outside this season? Between the grill, the bugs and the heat, entertaining outdoors can prove a tricky proposition, so follow these easy steps to ensure that this summer your outdoor entertaining efforts go off without a hitch.

Taking heartburn off the menu this barbecue season
While a little burning is expected when you fire up the grill, a leading gastroenterologist says that if you follow some simple, at-home guidelines, you may be able to avoid the burning sensation in your chest.

Bored with water? Try a new and refreshing drink to cool off
The hot days of summer and even early fall can leave you parched for a refreshing drink. By cold brewing tea leaves, the resulting drink not only can quench thirst and eliminate grease from your system, but also retains the caffeine and tannic acid found in the tea leaves.

S'mores is the right activity for more than just camping
Americans have a love affair with that classic campfire treat, S'mores. The good news - S'mores are no longer reserved just for campfire cooking. Did you know you can enjoy the chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker goodness every day, inside and out?

Summertime, and the cooking is easy
When the weather heats up, you're looking for ways to keep your cool. Incorporating new dishes that don't require a lot of heat to prepare and leave you feeling cool is a great way to survive the summer heat.

Five superfoods for heart health
Some foods pack more punch than others. Here are five foods that have a lot of disease-fighting power, and it's a good idea to regularly make room for them in your meals.

Backyard grilling: Sliding into summer with savory sliders
The backyard barbecue grilling season is in full swing and hamburgers continue to reign supreme as one of America's favorite grilled foods. Whether you cook with gas or charcoal, nothing beats the flavor of a juicy burger right off the grill. And, whether you're into bold flavors or basic toppings, nothing tops off a burger better than a great glass of wine.

How you can shape up your summer snacking
Summer is here, and that means barbecues, get-togethers and outdoor parties with friends and family. With so many tempting treats, it can be hard to snack smartly, but some easy substitutions here and there can keep the whole family on track all summer long.

Easy ideas for elegant outdoor summer entertaining
To really impress your guests this summer, give your outdoor soirees a little extra elegance that goes beyond the usual grill-out. The good news is that it's easier than you'd imagine to create an ambiance that is welcoming and sophisticated.

Women and men process salt differently
No two people are the same when it comes to salt in the diet. Studies around the world have repeatedly shown that, regardless of total calories consumed, men consume significantly more salt than women do.

Seasoning challenged? How to find a solution with spice blends
Smart seasoning can turn a so-so dish into a sparkling experience. If you're unsure how to expand your spice cabinet beyond the basics like pepper, paprika, chili powder, some garlic powder and (for the adventurous) a bit of curry powder, ready-made seasoning blends can eliminate the guesswork.

Tips to make indoor entertaining sizzle this summer
Sure, summer is suited to barbecues, picnics and all sorts of al fresco fun. But indoor entertaining has appeal during the warmer months as well. When temperatures turn too sultry to sit outside, or you just crave a more elegantly prepared meal shared with good friends and no mosquitoes, you'll be grateful for your kitchen and indoor entertainment spaces.

Sweet or savory? With apples, you can do both
You've heard the phrase, "As American as apple pie." While apples provide the fabric for some of our most basic, familiar and comfortable foods, they can be used in more versatile ways than you might have imagined. While you can't go wrong with staples like apple pie, caramel apples and apple fritters, there's plenty more to explore in the world of cooking with apples.

Easy ideas to make summer celebrations sparkle
Summer's here, kids are home, the weather is warm and everyone is looking to celebrate the season with a party. Summertime party experts encourage hosts to take a fresh approach to party planning by creating themes that turn ordinary get-togethers into fun events.

How to shop smart for your health and your wallet
With a dizzying array of choices in the supermarket, finding the best foods for your family can be a challenge, particularly in the dairy aisle. Every shopping trip is an opportunity to re-evaluate your family's grocery store habits and make changes for a happy wallet and a healthy body.

Tips to make the most out of everyday family fun
If you thought a day of family fun would bust your budget and take a lot of time to plan, think again. Contrary to common belief, it is possible to plan fun, family-friendly activities without breaking the bank. Here are some valuable tips to get you on the road to celebrating, saving and offering your family more throughout the year.

Lower cholesterol naturally with food first
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. The cornerstones of managing heart disease are healthy lifestyle behaviors: a heart-healthy diet, exercise, smoking cessation and stress management. However, with so much information available, it's often confusing where to begin.

Food and wine: How to create a perfect marriage
Weddings are one of life's most celebrated occasions. For brides- and grooms-to-be and their families, an incredible amount of creativity and planning is poured into this all-important day: from the wedding gown to the ceremony, from the invitations and flowers to the wedding cake itself. One of the most-remembered details is what guests are served, so the wedding menu should reflect the couple-to-be's unique style and personality.

Light eating for families: Experts suggest seafood
Health experts recommend young families, especially expecting moms, should aim to eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods -- those that, like seafood, are bursting with vitamins and minerals in every bite. Warm weather is the perfect time to learn light, delicious ways to make fish your family's new favorite.

Sweeten the grilling season with fresh corn
When the weather's warm, you don't need a special occasion to cook out, picnic or throw a patio party. Any fine day is a good reason to scrub down the grill and heat up your inner outdoor cook. As you stock up on burgers and buns at the supermarket, gather your own crop of sweet, fresh corn too.