This is the first time I’ve ever believed a beverage could hold its own in a food fight.

See, the thing is-I’m just really not much of a beverage kinda gal. Sure, I enjoy a good thirst quencher from time to time, but on a day-to-day basis, I’m all about a simple bottle of water. Fork trumps straw any day.

It’s a fact of life, I tell ya. But every now and then, a drink so mind-blowing comes along that you find yourself at a fork in the road. Do I drink my calories, or do I eat them?

I …

Have you been to the farmers’ market lately?

Delicate squash blossoms, sweet ears of corn, and zucchini on zucchini on zucchini.

It’s kinda overwhelming. And if you’re anything like me, you end up with a giant bag of produce on your counter. A bag that just stares at you wistfully until it’s eatin’ time or bust.

I gotchu. But let’s do this-for reals. Don’t let another bunch of kale go bad. And heaven forbid the peaches turn to mush.

Grab your paring knife, a bowl, and let’s get this show on the road.

**4 Best Uses for Summer Produce**

1. Take it …

I like holidays. A lot. Most people just have an extra bit of pep in their step and easiness in their voice. But me? Well, I get crazy. (But you already knew that.) So naturally, you would understand that I’m just a tad excited borderline beside myself with enthusiasm about spending the Fourth of July in the heart of the nation itself.

Red, white, and blue everything. Firecracker popsicles. Barbecues in the name of independence. Star-spangled nail polish. The national anthem…and plenty of pop dance anthems too. Fireworks? Fireworks! Uncle Sam costumes. And of course, AMURRICA!

You know— just the …

There’s something bonkers magical about breakfast options. It’s kind of like being a five-year-old kid in a candy shop. Only better.

Because bacon, brown sugar, and butter are all invited to the same party. PARTY?!

Yes, you know the little get together in your mouth? That one. Address: 5263 YUM St. City, zip code, and state—irrelevant. Speaking of directions, we’re going on a road trip. And you get to pick the destination.

Maybe you want a bowl ‘o cereal with the “taste you can see” or some hippie, crunchy-granola noms.

Or maybe, you’ve totally had a (cereal)ity check and just …

I remember being 8 years old and playing “Tag” late into a warm, summer evening. Barefoot, I padded through the dewy, emerald glades of my neighbor’s lawn, as I prepared to sprint for the designated safe area. My heart pounded to the breathless countdown in my head.

Three. Thud. Two. Thud, thud. One. And…GO!

My limbs roared to life, gathering speed beneath me with every stride. I took off flying around the corner, aware that my brother would be in hot pursuit within seconds. The wind whipped through my hair, and I heard the tell-tale rhythm of my brother’s gait …

Dish: Cornbread in a Bowl
Serves: 1
Good For: Breakfast for 1, comfort food, meat eaters and vegetarians alike, quiet weekend mornings, late night snacks, living like Paula Deen…without the heart attack
Shopping list: 1/3 cup cornmeal, bulk (89 cents), 1/4 cup milk (20 cents), 1 tablespoon butter (10 cents)
Pantry items: baking powder, salt, honey, water
Total cost: $1.00

Let’s talk about real life, real quick.

Wearing expensive five-inch feels on a Tuesday morning; eating way-too-expensively-blah breakfasts of a Starbucks latte and dried-out scone; and creeping on Facebook photos of that kid from high school who suddenly became …

With Memorial Day announcing the beginning of beach days and the official start of summer right around the corner, it’s finally time to dust off the grill for barbecue season. Now admittedly, it’s easy to get stuck in BBQ chicken and grilled steak ruts. But hey, life’s too short. Not you. Not this summer.

Put your game grill face on. Turn up the heat (and the music.) Dance like nobody’s watching.

And show me your grillz…because things are about to get hot in here.

**The 5 Best Cool Foods to Grill**

1. Grilled Cheese. Once upon a time, there was …

When it comes to food (and hey, just about everything else), holidays are kind of a big deal.

However, the truth is, not all holidays are created equal. Christmas may be the main squeeze, but I can guarantee you that few people know the date of Columbus Day or the story behind it (#occupyNorthAmerica?).

But there exists one holiday that each individual holds in higher regard than Santa Claus himself.

Birthdays.

Birthdays are the icing on the cake of a year—an ingenious moral holiday of shameless self-promotion celebrating the one and only Y-O-U. From candles and cakes to singing and …

When it comes to food, style is kind of a big deal.

For a generation that is often driven by refined aesthetics, the way food looks isn’t a mere minor detail. As any chef will tell you, the presentation of a food can make or break the overall execution. That brings us to the world of food trends. From sushi to açai, from gourmet burgers to cupcakes.

We’ve always cared about the taste of food, but now we care that it’s tasteful too.

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to the uber stylish, the très chic, …

It is very possible that this post will change your life. That you may have an epiphany. That you may discover God’s gift to man. It takes some serious balls to back up a claim like that. But believe me, you’re about to get just that.

I’d like to introduce you to Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie Batter Truffle Balls.

Wow, those balls sound like a mouthful.

That’s what she said…? Uhh yeah.

Or maybe that’s what I said, right as my maturity launched itself out the window. Chocolate³ will do that to a girl. But I digress. Let’s …