No matter the time of year, macaroni and cheese is the ULTIMATE comfort food. I love making this dish year-round, but it's a favorite among my family for Thanksgiving. My sister and her husband, John, hosted Thanksgiving for their first time as a married couple, and I helped them get the menu ready to make sure we had everything we needed. Kaitlin specially requested this mac and cheese, and even though she claims she hates butternut squash, it's her favorite dish we make every year. The …
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Gwyneth Paltrow’s Zucchini and Leek Soup
This recipe for Zucchini and Leek Soup from Gwyneth Paltrow's latest cookbook, It's All Easy, is the perfect September soup. September's a weird month in Chicago. It's gotten up to almost 95 degrees this week (!), but next week will be down to the mid-60s. While it's not quite soup season yet, this vegan Zucchini and Leek Soup from It's All Easy (published by goop press) is super light and creamy and can be served either hot or cold — perfect for summer and fall months. It's vegan, …
Pizza Party! Homemade Pizza Recipes for Summer
Two easy-to-make homemade pizza recipes using fresh fruit and greens that are perfect for warmer temps. Homemade pizza is a fun and easy at-home dinner that's always a good idea. But for summer, I've been all about adding fruit to my homemade pizzas and trying different combos using whatever fresh ingredients I have on hand. My friend Jenna first made this Strawberry & Arugula pizza for a Bachelorette watch party a few weeks ago, and her sister, Alli, makes the Peach & Basil one (I …
What to Order at a Juice Bar (Plus 6 Chicago Juice Bars to Try)
Jumpstart your summer health kick with green juice! Here’s the best juice to order at a juice bar, plus six Chicago juice bars you'll love. There's nothing better in the summer than a fresh green juice. It's so easy to grab a pre-made juice out of the fridge at your favorite local juice bar, but if you're making your own drink, it can be tricky to put together the perfect combo of flavors so your juice doesn't end up tasting like grass. After a few orders gone wrong, I've finally settled …
Kristin Cavallari’s “Healthy” Margaritas
Nothing beats a good homemade margarita. I saw this recipe on Kristin Cavallari's Snapchat (kcavsnaps) and knew I had to try it for myself. I'm not a big sparkling water person—and my tequila days are long over—so I was skeptical about these, but after trying this "healthy" margarita recipe I'm obsessed! These all-natural margs have no processed sweeteners and are much lower in sugar and calories than traditional margaritas. They're so light and crisp, and the fresh lime juice perfectly …