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A few months ago, after yet another stack of bright plastic plates tumbled out of an upper cabinet, I set up a dedicated drawer for all of my daughter’s kitchen things. I put everything in there: her plates, bowls, cups, and placemats. It’s a big drawer, so we also store her cooking tools there too, including a crinkle cutter, small cutting board, masher, and ice pop molds.

It was a magical aha moment, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it earlier. This simple change instantly changed her relationship to getting ready for mealtime — and cleaning up afterwards. And it’s restored the calm to the rest of our cabinets, which has been a relief to me after a few years of living with the chaos. Here’s why I now recommend it to everyone I know with little kids.

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(Image credit: Simply Delicious)

When meatballs are on the menu, you know you’re in for a homey, comforting meal. But when those meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella, well, I’d say you’ve just taken dinner to a whole new level.

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Ice cream lovers of the world have some exciting news to freak out about: Talenti just released four new flavors for spring, and they all sound delicious. And one of them — a decadent peanut butter fudge flavor — isn’t so decadent at all. In fact, it’s vegan.

Now, don’t expect some sugary treat with the lightest hint of peanut butter flavoring with this sorbetto. This new flavor is made up of 30 percent real peanut butter, and has swirls of dairy-free fudge. It’s the real deal.

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With the arrival spring comes our yearning for all things light, bright, and fresh. When it comes to satisfying our sweet tooth this means savoring the sunny pop of all things lemon, jumping at the arrival of vibrant fruits, and welcoming some of those springy favorites with open arms. From hot cross buns to a rhubarb-studded tart, here are 20 essential recipes to add to your must-bake list this spring.

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(Image credit: Tara Donne)

Walk into any bar in Miami and, chances are, you’ll find a mojito on the menu — or, at the very least, a bartender who can make you a mojito. This classic cocktail, made with fresh mint, lime juice, sugar, rum, and seltzer, is about as Miami as it gets. Perhaps that’s because it’s also the ideal antidote to the Florida heat.

There are plenty of variations — Thai basil and lemongrass make this already refreshing sipper even more so, a splash of Campari adds bitterness for a more complex cocktail, and muddled grilled pineapple is a slightly sweeter take — but we’re partial to the original.

The recipe isn’t complicated, but there are a few things worth paying attention to — and they’ll make the difference between a meh-jito and an amazing one.

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My mother didn’t have the same privileges that my brother and I were accustomed to growing up, but she did have my Nana. My grandmother made sure that all seven of her children were clothed, fed, and educated. My mother always says that my Nana could not only turn lemons into lemonade, but she also planted the seeds that turned into lemon trees in her own backyard. She was the Martha Stewart of Westbury.

When my father settled our little family into the town of Bay Shore on Long Island, New York, my mother was opened to a whole new world of suburban housewives. These women thrived on carpooling, going to PTA meetings, and helping their Girl Scout leaders have the best group of girls in the system. Cooking was a totally different story than what my Nana had provided.

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From Apartment Therapy → How to Remove Labels From Jars (and Turn Jars Into Glassware)

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Of all the appliances (large or small) in your kitchen, the microwave tends to have the shortest lifespan — around nine years or so. The good news? The new ones on the market are relatively inexpensive and you can get a decent one for less than $100.

How will you know if it’s time to get a new one? Look for any of these five signs.

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(Image credit: Gina Eykemans)

Open Slideshow

My coffee-guzzling husband looked me in my non-coffee-guzzling eyes and stated with disgust, “Honey, this cup of coffee tastes like a foot.” Now, I’m not a coffee drinker, but I know a few things. One of these things is that coffee is not supposed to taste like feet. I think that’s a basic principle, right?

When the coffee you brew starts to taste bitter and funky it’s time to give your coffee machine a little extra love. A simple cleaning will help maintain freshness, remove hard water spots from the carafe, and prevent staining. It will also remove mineral buildup and clean out the coffee oils that get left behind and turn rancid. The best news? It’s easy to do and you probably have everything needed to freshen up your machine at home!

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I didn’t use recipes growing up. My mom (the original Iron Chef) just taught me by example. A pinch of this, cook that until it smells right, take it out of the oven when the edges turn golden — you know the type.

Let’s just say we didn’t own any measuring cups and nothing ever tasted exactly the same way twice. Which is why the most important thing I learned about cooking after having a baby was a total shock to my system.

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