Three Easy Ways to Host a Summer Picnic One of my favorite ways to entertain in summer is with a picnic-style dinner, either at a summer concert or in the backyard. I learned this style of entertaining from my mom, who loved planning easy, make-ahead meals that could be served almost anywhere. Over the years, Mom became an expert at picnic-style entertaining, whether we were attending a summer concert at the Denver Botanic Gardens, hosting a garden party at home, or tailgating before a Denver...

Keeping Summer Cooking Cool and Easy I’m back! I’ve been away from your inbox for the past month while my husband, Robert, and I moved with our two dogs from Grand Lake, Colorado (at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park) back down to Denver. After weeks of planning, packing, moving, and unpacking, we’re slowly beginning to feel settled. With most of the kitchen finally unpacked, I’m ready to get back to cooking and sharing recipes with you. This week, I’ve gathered 5 of my...

Side Dishes to Round Out Your Memorial Day Menu Memorial Day weekend is often all about what’s on the grill, but the side dishes are what make the meal feel complete. And the best part? Many of them can be made ahead, which makes entertaining much easier. For this week’s newsletter, I’m focusing on make-ahead Memorial Day side dishes, from classic cookout favorites like potato salad, coleslaw, and cornbread to a few fresh twists that add color, texture, and a little something unexpected to...