Making authentic Mexican food can sometimes feel out of my comfort zone, but after discovering delicious carne de puerco at a favorite local joint, I knew it was high time I try. Now that I know how easy it is to achieve this dish of tender pork smothered in a charred tomatillo sauce at home, I may never again need to "go out" for Mexican ever again.

Any trip to Texas will likely include an experience with chicken fried steak and Cholula hot sauce. Chicken fried steak (lovingly called CFS) is a southern classic, while Cholula hot sauce (introduced to the states here in Austin, TX) is a popular condiment that adds a Texas kick. See what happens when these icons get hitched in this new take on a Lone Star tradition.

I had so much fun putting together my cooking and party playlists a few weeks ago, but I'm just an amateur mix-maker. When it comes to professional party music, I always turn to my friends Tony Liebetrau and Ian Gotler of the DJ company RedShoe, who know how to set just the right mood with music. Today I'm sharing three playlists from Tony: one to get you chopping to the beat while you cook, another to put on when the guests arrive, and a final, low-key mix to make cleaning up at the end of the night a little easier.

Kids know how to party! Check out the latest festive celebrations from the Apartment Therapy's Family channel, which posts kids' parties every day. We'll be bringing you a roundup of these inspiring parties every week.

• Charlotte's Peter Pan Party
  
• Kieran's Spring Party
• Bodhi's Little Mustache Man Party
• Matilda's Red Balloon Party
  
• Little Pilot's Lawn Mower Party
  

Folks, it's spring and you know what that means? Picnic season is right around the corner. If you entertain like I do with food sitting out buffet style while kids and dogs run around, then these new containers might be something you'll want to watch out for!

I have never been to the Kentucky Derby, but every year my family and friends celebrate it as if we were racing heirs from Lexington. Our standard menu includes everything from ham biscuits, hot browns, and homemade Derby pie. A few rounds of Mint Juleps, of course, are a must. This fresh take on the classic, with pineapple chunks, spicy ginger syrup, and a sprinkle of black peppercorns, will be your go-to from now until summer meets its final days.

There's really no point to cleaning your place top to bottom right before guests arrive. If they're any fun at all, they're going to make a bit of a mess, right? But you want them to think your house is clean, even if you just shoved those yet-to-be-unpacked suitcases under the bed seconds before you opened the front door with a smile. This is how I clean my house in ten minutes or less.

At our house we entertain — a lot. Asian-inspired dishes like Thai curry, Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwiches, and sushi are often on the menu.  Sriracha is our condiment of choice, and while we enjoy cold beer to tame its heat, the search for the perfect cocktail to pair with it has finally come to a very happy ending with this week's drink.

Do you own a fryer? Did you know it has magical abilities to bring people together? It's my best kept entertaining secret because it gets people involved with the meal no matter what their culinary preferences. And it's the perfect frugal entertaining companion! Want to know how I put it to use?