Here's a little tip from the department of Do Things Ahead: scooping ice cream is one of my favorite little things to prep ahead of time, especially before a birthday party. Why? Well, do you just love scooping ice cream at the table? I know I don't...

Q: I'd like my household to be completely plastic- and foil-free — and the freezer seems to be the last holdout. It isn't an issue for hot meals because we use glass but I'm struggling with how to package items like breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and burritos to freeze without plastic wrap or foil or freezer bags.

Q: I made my first ever vegan key lime pie today for dinner guests. I put in twice as much lime juice as the recipe called for and it still wasn't as limey/tart as we like. I also used silken tofu and was a bit confused because the recipe called for extra firm silken tofu, which the store didn't have. 

Q: What are some gluten-free meal ideas for a couple with a new baby still in the hospital? A friend recently had a baby who is staying in the NICU. With all the time spent at the hospital, the parents have little energy to cook when they get home. 

For the longest time I thought entertaining meant an all-out war with my family, my kitchen, and my senses. It was something I felt I had to conquer in order to become an amazing wife and friend. But I now realize that had I taken a step back and just made a few simple things a little extra special, I could have saved myself the stress and had more time to enjoy those around me. Here are 5 things you can do so you don't make the same mistakes I did!

I found a surprising note on the new nonstick pan I purchased. While the instructions noted that the pan had been fully seasoned and was ready for use, it suggested seasoning the pan twice a year to maintain its finish. Hold on a minute, we're supposed to season nonstick pans?  

Q: I'm getting ready to move into a new home and am devastated that I'll be leaving my gas stove behind! There's no possibility of installing a gas stove in the new house as there aren't any gas lines in the neighborhood, so I'm looking for advice on the best substitute. 

Q: My brother and his fiancée really want a carrot cake for their wedding cake, but I'm concerned that the cream cheese frosting will be a food poisoning risk. How long can a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting stay unrefridgerated before it becomes a health hazard?

Sent by Liz

Last week I was in San Francisco and received a tip from a new friend that the grits with a poached egg at Cowgirl Creamery in the Ferry Building were a must-have. Realizing I'd just finished working on a whole grain cookbook, she grabbed my arm and asked: How are grits any different than polenta? 

I can't think of a more perfect person to interview for our Expert Essentials series (see the whole series so far here!) than Sam Mogannam, owner of Bi-Rite Grocery in San Francisco.  Not only did Sam grow up in the grocery store, which was owned by his family, but he went to culinary school and worked as a chef before returning to Bi-Rite to reinvent it from a cooks point of view.  He is absolutely dedicated to helping people love, appreciate, understand, and enjoy food and cooking.  Read on for his lively, engaging list of essential things for a happy home kitchen.