Tag: Summer

Summertime Smarts: 11 DIY Tips for Your Family’s Next Adventure

Whatever summer adventures you have planned—to the beach, pool, campground, or even your own backyard—these cool summer tips, tricks, hacks, and DIYs will bring a smile to your face and, perhaps, even a sigh of relief. There’s still plenty of time to get out there and do summer like a champ! No. 1: Pack a…


Nonna Nico’s Sicilian Jasmine-Infused Watermelon Jelly

“Sometimes people are surprised to hear that I’m a duchess, but I tell them that modern duchesses don’t have time to sit around painting their nails. My husband Duke Gioacchino Tomasi di Lampedusa has inherited the 18th-century palazzo of his adopted father and Italy’s most famed writer, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa—author of ‘Il Gattopardo’ [‘The…


Baba Maral’s Azerbaijani Stuffed Eggplants, Peppers, and Tomatoes (‘Three Sisters’)

“I’m from a family where every member of my family knows how to cook the entire animal from head to tail. It’s so important not to waste when it comes to food. We’re from the mountains in Azerbaijan. It’s so beautiful there that you can hear the voice of the river as you sleep. Mostly…


How a California Winery Celebrates Summer’s Bounty

I recently drove up the Pacific coast to the world-class Paso Robles winery region. The first night I visited the Sensorio light exhibit, where tens of thousands of stemmed spheres lit up the night, creating an incredible landscape. It really is a can’t-miss experience. I also had the opportunity to visit several wineries and enjoy…


Beat-the-Heat Potato Salad

This is my “I can’t deal” potato salad. (It’s also my favorite potato salad.) In the heat of the summer, when it’s too hot to move, it’s nice to have a few easy recipes to rely on when you simply can’t cope with cooking. These recipes hit the spot without making you sweat unnecessarily over…


Honey Orange Chicken Foil Packets Are a Flavorful, Mess-Free Win

These flavorful foil packets are one of my family’s favorite quick and easy meals. Each one is filled with juicy chicken and fresh, colorful, seasonal vegetables, all tossed in a delicious citrusy honey sauce and grilled to perfection. Plus, you can eat them right out of the packet, which makes cleanup a breeze. If you…


For the Best Berry Cobbler, Bake It Twice

The secret to our cobbler is that we bake the berry filling before topping the cobbler with the biscuit dough. Then we bake it again to get our fluffy, flaky biscuits. This works so well because if the berry filling is hot when the biscuit dough is put on top, it helps cook the biscuits…


Summer’s Bounty Means It’s Time for Zucchini Fritters!

Serve these crispy zucchini fritters with creamy dill-yogurt sauce during the summer, when zucchini are abundant at the farmers market (or in your backyard garden). The key to the best fritters is moisture management. Zucchini is primarily made up of water, so this recipe starts with a two-step process of salting and squeezing the vegetable…


A Street Food Favorite in Salad Form

Traditional elotes, grilled Mexican street corn, are coated with a thin layer of garlic mayonnaise and rolled in cotija cheese, a salty, crumbly Mexican cheese. There are many versions of this sweet and salty classic. Some add a few tablespoons of Mexican crema to the mayonnaise mixture, while others add chopped cilantro or scallions as…


Seven Springs Mountain Resort: A Delightful Summer Playground for Adults and Kids Alike

Summer camp can be a magical place for youngsters to make memories in the outdoors. But why should adults be left out of the fun? Can a family retreat together to share in this summer rite and grow closer? That was the premise of my family’s recent trip to Seven Springs Mountain Resort in southwestern Pennsylvania….