Who would turn down childhood summers spent in France, traveling between a farmhouse in Provence and the glamour of Paris, or taking a long road trip through Bordeaux, stopping off in Saint Malo and Lyon and ending up in on a beach in the Mediterranean? Who wouldn't love to offer such a life to their own children? If that's not immediately possible for you, then you can take vicarious pleasure in reading and cooking from this beautifully photographed cookbook/memoir written by two lucky women who had that very childhood and more.

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Jenny Rosenstrach, author of Dinner: A Love Story and the blog of the same name, summed up the last few years of her writing on the family dinner in such a funny, wise, helpful, and entertaining post last week. She laid out her 50 rules for dinner, and then her husband did the same, starting with: "When making pasta, be sure to salt the water." Want to see all of their rules for dinner? What would your rules for dinner be? 

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KitchenAid stand mixers have a devoted following, and those who have one say it's totally worth the splurge. If you have a mixer, love your mixer, and find yourself squealing every year over the new 2013 KitchenAid mixer colors, then do we have a treat for you: fabulous, colorful, oh-so-cute gingerbread cookies in the shape of that beloved KitchenAid mixer!

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I love washed linen napkins. They are incredibly soft and absorbent and their rumpled look suits my casual style. They can be ironed if you want a crisper look, but they are truly beautiful if you just smooth and fold them when they come out of the dryer (or off the line). Their only downside is the price, which can run as high as $30 each. But if you're like me and also appreciate frayed edges, then you can have six linen napkins for half that price, with no sewing involved. Read on for how to make this happen.

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Last month we launched a new monthly series, Gatherings from The Kitchn, showing you our own dinner parties, large and small. We started off with Faith's cozy and communal Italian polenta party, and this week I'll be sharing a brunch I hosted for my book club, a bright weekend gathering full of fresh spring flavors, make-ahead recipes, and a fun, book-themed table setting.

If you're ready to shake off the winter blues with a weekend brunch — whether in celebration of a new baby on the way, an upcoming wedding, or just a sunny day — follow along for tips and inspiration for organizing your own pretty, no-fuss daytime party.

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Butter makes everything better. So it stands to reason that flavored butter would make everything even more better. Times infinity. Judging by the butters Lucy Vaserfirer offers in this new cookbook, I'd say this logic definitely holds true. Chipotle butter for your grilled steak? Honey-orange butter for your muffin? We have just entered buttery nirvana.

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Quiche — that wonderful savory breakfast pie — is the perfect make-ahead brunch recipe. I was looking for a fresh, spring recipe when I came across this quiche from Stephanie of Desserts for Breakfast. As Stephanie says, this recipe features a "myriad of textures and flavors" — fresh peas, sweet butternut squash, a little bite and tang from the feta cheese, all topped with garlic. Sounds like the perfect midday crowd-pleaser. 

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For many people, 2000 calories is around the number of calories you should consume in a day. But what does that even look like? BuzzFeed made a simple video to illustrate how many — or in some cases, how few — servings of various types of food equal 2000 calories. Ready to be surprised?

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"Indians are alchemists of the vegetarian table," writes Anjum Anand, and her new cookbook merges India's rich culinary traditions with a fresh, modern perspective. Indian Vegetarian Feast should appeal to both vegetarians and omnivores looking for simple, healthy weeknight recipes and beautiful dishes to impress dinner party guests.

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Q: I would like to buy a pair of solid fruit and vegetable reference books. I am debating between Chez Panisse Fruits and Vegetables and Nigel Slater's Tender and Ripe. Do you have any suggestions or thoughts on how they compare? Are they unique enough that it's worth owning all four books?

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