Regardless of the season, my go-to dessert when people come over to visit has always been ice cream. However, I have a handful of friends who've recently gone dairy-free, so I've been creatively challenged when thinking about something other than sorbet, sherbet or fresh fruit to serve to my old ice cream homies when they stop by in the evening. Now I have a few new ideas.

Q: What are the best dairy substitutes for savory recipes? As in cheese- or cream-based dishes? I've read about replacing milk with almond milk or coconut milk for baking and sweet foods, but they sound like they would be too sweet for a pasta sauce or casseroles. 

Pairing peanut brittle with cheese seems obvious with a bit of analyzation. It's sweet, nutty, salty, caramelized, and addictive: all adjectives used so frequently for cheese. If you're into switching up the things you eat alongside your cheese wedges, consider some chards of peanut brittle. But which cheeses match it best? 

Come springtime and warmer weather, I get positively giddy when I hear the first chimes of the ice cream truck. But now I don't have to wait for the truck to make its rounds — I can make my favorite chilled treat, the Drumstick, whenever a craving hits. Seriously, this version is easy, fast, and a million times better than the original!!

Last month Megan declared baked ricotta "the best appetizer you haven't met yet." Intrigued (who wouldn't be?), I gave it a try and suddenly baked ricotta is the best appetizer I've only recently met. It's the new thing, the current crush, the little bite that perfectly straddles the divide between old-fashioned, stodgy hot appetizers and fresher, more modern tastes. If you like to have something hot on the table to start a party, then let us convince you to also make baked ricotta's acquaintance. 

I made a spontaneous purchase during an IKEA trip last week. The place kind of has that effect on people.

Sadly, though, I was struck with a bit of regret when I got it home.

If you have yet to experience the pleasure of cheese and beer together, or if you're a strict believer in pairing cheese with wine and wine alone, here's a book to open, widen, and/or convert your mindset. 

And if you're already on the beer and cheese bandwagon, there's no question that this is a book for you. 

Usually half-used containers of anything make me want to pull my hair out as I scramble for ways to use them up before the contents go bad. Not so with ricotta! In fact, I find myself looking forward to having a few spoonfuls leftover from a recipe just so I can use them however I want. My favorite nefarious uses for leftover ricotta? Here are five to try.

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...