Mom's Kitchen Handbook

The importance of drinking plenty of water is one nutrition fact with which few would argue. Trying to take in enough of it during the day is the challenge. Here’s something that may get you and your kids to want to down a few extra glasses: fruit water.

A number of years ago at a reading for her informative book, What to Eat, esteemed nutrition expert Marion Nestle told a rapt audience that the best way she knows to get kids to eat is to teach them to cook. I couldn’t agree more. I also know that having some cool cooking gear is [...]

I was at the supermarket on Sunday being trailed by all three of my kids playing that age-old game of mothers and children: they slip food into the shopping cart; you notice said food and return it to the shelf. Included was a box of granola bars proffered by my daughter, Rosie, that were coated [...]

Kitchen safety: This is a trick I learned from the pros during my one foray into restaurant cooking while in grad school. To keep cutting boards from wiggling around, dampen a dish towel, lay it on your work surface, and set your cutting board on top. Alternatively, you can cut pieces of foam or rubber [...]

I‘ll apologize up front that the gorgeousness in the photo above isn’t coming to you in a recipe today. My sister-in-law Alison made these Strawberry and Yogurt Cream Tarts for a barbecue at our house recently, and yes, they were as delicious as they look. It was not a “no, thank you” or even “just [...]

Over the years, bagels have been supersized along with so many other foods in the marketplace. They can top 400 calories a pop: That’s the equivalent to four slices of sandwich bread, which doesn’t leave much room for wholesome goodies on the inside. Not to mention the fact that a big bagel is tricky for [...]

From the looks of this cake you’d never guess that a full two cups of raw vegetables go into the batter. From the taste of it you’d never suspect the presence of beets and zucchini either. But grated raw vegetables aren’t reason enough to bake this cake; it’s more a nutritious perk. Do it because [...]

Note: The giveaway is officially closed. A second giveaway will be announced on September 6, so stay tuned! The reality of the kids returning to school is always bittersweet for me: I’ll miss having them around, but relish the quiet. I’ll long for the relaxed rhythm of summer, but enjoy the restore to order in [...]

Not long after having my third child I was talking to a friend about how overwhelmed I was, explaining that I could no longer keep the “to dos” straight in my head. With the various activities, play dates, nap times, and many appointments, along with my own schedule, I wasn’t able to keep track of [...]

So many cool things have percolated out of Mom’s Kitchen Handbook over the past several months, I’m pinching myself. Among them is my collaboration with the fine folks at Pottery Barn Kids, one of my backyard brands here in San Francisco. We’ve been working together on a “back-to-school” season primer of sorts, to help moms [...]