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Planning a first birthday party is so fun — you get to pick cute decorations and make cake or cupcakes for a baby to smash in fits of delight! I often get asked what time of day is best for hosting birthday parties, as I’ve tried everything from morning to late evening parties for my two children, and I’ve come to a slightly surprising conclusion that works well for both babies turning 1 and most kids under 8 too. Here’s the best time of day to host a young kid’s party.

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A cheese ball is only as good as what you serve it with. Crackers are classic, but that’s really just the tip of the cheese ball. All that flavorful goodness that’s rolled up inside has the potential to be spread onto and dipped into countless tasty snacks. Here are 7 to inspire your next party.

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(Image credit: Meghan Splawn)

Baking cakes for birthdays and celebrations is one of my most favorite pastimes. Geeky, I know, but the ritual of baking and decorating a cake fills me with joy, and I love lighting up the faces of the people I love with a humble, handmade cake. But, as I’ve got a busy work and family life, there are occasions when I do not have to time bake a cake — even from a boxed mix. Instead I rely on a little-known secret of the grocery store bakery that makes me feel like a champion while still gleefully presenting a handmade cake to delighted guests.

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(Image credit: @debperelman/ Instagram)

Cult favorite food blogger and cookbook author Deb Perelman, of Smitten Kitchen, has reached the airwaves and we couldn’t be more excited for her. She recently announced in an Instagram post that she has launched a digital series with The Food Network. Did you catch the first episode?

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Whether it goes by the name General Tso’s, General Gau’s, or General Gao’s (see a spirited Yelp discussion on the matter here), the deep-fried nuggets of boneless chicken tossed in sweet-spicy sauce and served on a bed of broccoli is America’s reigning Chinese dish. According to the food delivery site GrubHub, General Tso’s chicken was the most popular Chinese takeout item of 2014, and the fourth most-ordered dish overall.

In addition to being beloved, and delicious, it turns out that General Tso’s chicken is a case study in how a Chinese dish becomes American. (The journey was even the topic of its own documentary called The Search for General Tso, produced by the Chinese-food sleuth Jennifer 8. Lee.)

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Open Cooking Lesson

A broiled grapefruit, a luscious smoothie bowl, or even a hearty smoothie is a charming way to start any day. But some weekday mornings require more than a fruit-filled start, no matter how yummy, to get your engines running and keep them running. You need something with protein and fiber, chock-full of nutrients; something fast that is satisfying, exciting, and inviting to spark your engine.

Here’s a new answer to this dilemma: a hearty whole grain and fresh fruit salad, with fresh herbs that add dimension, and quick gloss of a sweet-tart dressing. It’s all made ahead and just needs a last-minute toss together. This fruity tabouli is a formula, a recipe blueprint, that is so versatile you’ll be having a different breakfast every day for weeks with ease.

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When someone says “Whole Foods,” you’re likely to come back with the phrase, “Do you mean Whole Paycheck?” However, the company’s experiment with sporadic deals has proved successful and Refinery29 reports the haute grocery chain will continue to expand its millennial-focused deals.

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(Image credit: @melissa_hartwig)

For 30 days this month we’re exploring Whole30, the 30-day reset and refocus on whole foods. Whole30 isn’t a diet or a judgment of foods as “good and bad.” It’s actually a short-term reset that has helped many of our readers cook more and figure out the foods that make them feel their best. Read more about our coverage here.

If you’ve been following along with our Whole30 coverage this month, you might have noticed a couple names popping up over and over again. We’ve mentioned the founders of the Whole30 program — Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig — numerous times, and we thought it was about time we sat down with one of them to get some more inspiration.

I caught up with Melissa over the phone last month to dive deeper into the spirit of Whole30 and learn more about what she eats on a daily basis. Read on for the self-proclaimed “Whole30 headmistress” on everything from common Whole30 misconceptions to the wonders of spiralizing.

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Some fruit consumers in the Midwest will soon find that their apples won’t brown for weeks when exposed to air. That’s because the first batch of genetically modified apples are slated to go on sale in February or March of this year. The non-browning apples, which are also crispier in texture than non-modified apples, will be sold sliced and packaged by Canadian fruit company Okanagan Specialty Fruits.

The GMO apples — dubbed Arctic Apple — will be sold at 10 different Midwestern supermarket chains on a trial basis. The label will not disclose the product is genetically modified, but scanning the QR code of the apples will reveal this bit of information.

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This combination is asking you to take two of life’s greatest pleasures — macaroni and cheese and avocados — and bring them together in cheesy, creamy harmony. When you’re running low on ideas for a fast and truly enjoyable dinner, this quick mac and cheese hack is the one to turn to.

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