I am a self-professed granola bar fiend. Maybe it's an ingrained snacking habit from the countless bars eaten in the back seat of the car before ballet practice all through grade school. Or maybe it's the fact that I tend to get hangry if I go too long between meals. Either way, I nearly always have a granola bar or two close at hand. Making my own from the assortment of oats, nuts, and dried fruits that are always in my cupboard was a natural next step. More

I tend to go into hibernation mode at the first hint of fall. The looming cold weather inspires me to welcome people over and hole up for the night. Whether it's sitting around a fire pit into the late hours of the evening or to lingering over a hearty breakfast on a chilly weekend morning, I just can't think of a better way to spend time with my closest friends.
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Peanut butter and jelly never gets old. My fondness for this classic combo has only grown stronger since my days of pulling crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from my Care Bears lunch box. These baked pockets give us just the slightest twist on the classic. All the great peanut flavor and sticky jam, but made ahead (and frozen!) for easy lunches through the week. More

I have a close friend who was recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes and high cholesterol. She's not overweight, she exercises a few times a week and was actually a vegetarian for well over a decade. Everyone, including her doctors, was a bit baffled. She shares my pretty fierce sweet tooth, so we sat down together last week to brainstorm a few recipes that would help her begin to rethink the way she prepares her favorite course of the day: dessert. More

I traveled to Quito, Ecuador a few years ago as a stopover on my way to the Galapagos islands. I knew nothing about Quito, and while many things were new and unfamiliar, I had a good feeling after my very first afternoon there. I'd strolled into a cafe for a cup of coffee and noticed a towering display of cake slices. The woman at the register confirmed what I thought: tres leches cake, my very favorite. Things were looking up. More

Tender flaky pastry pockets filled with everything from fresh corn to spicy beef? Yes, please. Empanadas are always welcome in my kitchen and on my plate. With a busy few months ahead, I'm planning on making a big batch and freezing them for quick meals when I need them. More

I had my first pão de queijo at a Brazilian restaurant in Atlanta over five years ago, and I still dream about it. It was crispy outside but amazingly soft and chewy inside, and its cheese flavor was so ephemeral and haunting that I had to eat several more just to fix it in my mind. Well, I'm in trouble now because I just discovered that these little cheese puffs? With their addictive cheesiness? They are super easy to make at home. More

Q: I've been making lemon bars for catering functions, but I'm having problems getting them out of the pan. I've tried spraying the pan, using wax paper (which stuck to the bars), and letting the bars chill completely. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Sent by Anne More

Who: Keavy Landreth
What: Owner and head baker of Kumquat Cupcakery
Where: Brooklyn, New York

Inside a nondescript warehouse on a busy street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Keavy Landreth makes some of the most delicious mini cupcakes I've ever had. When I visited her tiny, industrial kitchen she was about to frost a batch for a wedding delivery that weekend: chocolate peanut butter, coffee caramel bourbon, peanut butter banana honey, and (her bestseller and my personal favorite) maple bacon, which is every bit as sweet and salty and scrumptious as the name implies. More

Yesterday we took a look at deep-fried banana bread and since then it's the only thing that's consumed my brain. All bananas all the time. To help get my mind off the subject I've rounded up our favorite banana bread treats and am headed into the kitchen for some serious quality testing. Which recipe will you make tonight? More