Being a good cook isn't just a matter of knowing the big, impressive skills you can show off to friends and family, like roasting a turkey or making challah bread. It's also about the small habits you practice daily, the ones that transform cooking into a more effortless and joyful part of your day. These 8 simple habits are easy to pick up, yet make a major difference in your cooking.

Discovering the fridge is empty right when hunger pangs hit is the downfall of many good plans for healthy meals. Knowing you have a few basic ingredients tucked away in the freezer for these moments helps curb the impulse to reach for the take-out menu. Eating Well shares their freezer essentials. More

We are always looking for smart tips that help us save time and be a little more efficient in the kitchen. This year we shared some great ideas for choosing the fastest lane at the supermarket, prepping and cooking a week's worth of vegetables in one afternoon, and freezing smoothies in muffin tins for healthy sipping in minutes — plus 12 more tips to make cooking healthy, tasty meals a little more convenient. More

Fresh, warm cinnamon rolls are a special breakfast for the holidays (or any day), but who wants to wake up at 5 am to start the process of making them from scratch? Instead of reaching for canned rolls, try this technique from King Arthur Flour: parbake and freeze cinnamon rolls, then fully bake them just before serving. You'll have hot, homemade cinnamon rolls on the table in just 20 minutes. More

Getting a head start on holiday shopping is one way to ease December stress. Another way is to check your pantry now for holiday baking essentials so you can avoid beginning a recipe and realizing you're out of sprinkles, parchment paper, or your cookie cutters are sub-par. We have a few great tips to get ready for holiday cookies, quick breads, cakes and pies. More

Chances are, if you've reached this site, you are planning on cooking at least part of your holiday meals from scratch. Many of you may even be going the whole shebang and cooking the entire meal, from the biscuits to cranberry sauce, on your own. But who says you can't fib a little on the timing? Read on for seven foods you can make now and freeze to save a few hours when you're cooking up a storm in a few weeks. More

Love holiday baking, but short on time? Turn to your freezer for help! Cookies, cakes, cupcakes and even whole pies can be made ahead of time and baked or thawed when you need them, so you'll always have a special dessert on hand, no matter how busy your schedule. More

Cooking pasta isn't rocket science, nor does it take a great deal of time. But sometimes even 5-10 minutes can seem like too much when you're on a tight schedule. So hopefully you have some frozen pasta on hand for a hearty meal. Here are a few tips to consider when freezing pasta: More

We've all been there: You want to throw together a quick soup but you don't have any stock on hand. The first question that pops up is whether stock is necessary. The answer depends on what kind of soup you are making. A stock is more important with a simple broth-based soup, whereas a more complex pureed or cream-based soup might be OK with just water. Ideally, though, you will always use stock, as it is the foundation of your soup and really adds flavor. Read on for a method of creating a quick, vegetable stock that will enhance any soup and can be made at the last minute. More

While standing in line at a juice bar, I noticed that every time someone ordered a concoction, an employee would pull out a container with just the right amount and combination of ingredients for one drink. What a time saver! I've started doing this at home, too: prepping and portioning individual bags of fruits and vegetables, which makes juicing a snap in the morning or any time of day. More