Who: Kim and Tyler Malek - these two are cousins!
What: Salt and Straw, artisan ice cream
Where: Portland, Oregon

If you live in Portland, you know that Salt & Straw is really popular. What started as a small, hand–pushed ice cream cart has turned into a celebrated community hang out with a constant, gigantic line out the door—all within a year's time. And their list of innovative and ridiculously seasonal flavors is about as long as their ever–present queue of excited customers.

There's nothing that pairs better with a scoop of ice cream than a slice of fruity pie or bowl of fresh, seasonal crumble. Today I bring you the first signs of summer; a downright plucky combo of just-cooked apricots and strawberries, playing host to a golden, almond cookie-enriched topping.

Need a gluten–free, vegetarian recipe to bring to a picnic or bbq this summer? This brown rice salad is full of tasty bits of treasure. It's also quick to assemble and you can riff off this recipe with items you happen to have in your pantry.

This past weekend I joined my family for a lazy afternoon in the park. The sun was blazing, we rode our bikes, and a water fight ensued, which we followed up with some serious napping. When we woke up to a subtle, perfect breeze, we dove into this tofu "egg" salad with gusto.

Scott renovated his kitchen entirely on his own, figuring it out as he went along. You'd never guess it from spending time in this delightfully bright space, a classic with a modern twist. He's certainly made the most of this funky layout with the use of strategically placed pantries and a keen sense of organization. Scott is also one of the most inventive cake makers I've ever met. This man's got a gift and no friend's birthday is complete without one of his outrageous confections.

After working for a few years as a personal chef, the most important skill I learned from the job wasn't how to wield my knife like a pro or how to cook super fancy, it was the ability to plan a menu for the week ahead. Do you plan your meals in advance? If so, what does this look like for you?

My mom adores breakfast in bed. Who doesn't? In fact, she's got a pretty sweet situation with my father prepping her coffee and bringing in the paper nearly every morning. After thirty years at a job where she had to burst into action at a very early hour, she relishes her mornings of moving a tad slower. The only way I could see enhancing her caffeine and breakfast in bed routine is to shake up that coffee into a different, more celebratory form for mother's day. A well–intentioned fake out, if you will. Hey it's fun still being her kid and surprising her!

Empanadas are endlessly variable depending on region, season and how you're grandmother may have made these delightful filled pastries. While traveling through Argentina, I sampled my favorite iteration of them all, "Empanadas Humitas" which translates to "Empanada with Corn".

Here's a recipe not for the faint of heart. It's an over–the–top 1950s–era recipe I dug out of a grandmother's collection. This confection combines yellow cake, rhubarb, strawberry jello and marshmallows. If you aren't afraid of that last sentence, then pull up a chair and join me for a slice of "big pink."

As a beginner in the world of wine, I knew I had a lot to learn about the magic, boozy grape juice. For the past seven years, I confess I've been buying wine based on price (cheap and cheaper, ay ay ay) and if the label appealed to me (look at that swirly font, cute!). So when I had the opportunity to travel to Chile and Argentina on a wine–focused journey last month, I hoped for a crash course on the most celebrated beverage on the planet. What I got was way more than an education; it was wine tasting boot camp guided by the industry's finest writers. Want to know how to taste wine like a pro?