A beautiful, well-planned plot of land surely highlights the work of an organized, dedicated gardener, and should be admired. But what about the purely lazy? Can't they, too, have bountiful warm-weather gardens? Slate author Ari LeVaux says yes. In fact, he argues that laziness breeds one heck of a garden. More

Like every large family, the faces around our holiday table have changed over the years. Faces we loved are gone, and there are new faces that bring us joy. In the last few years, our table has changed a lot, and I'm finally ready to be more organized about it, which is not my strong suit, but you have to grow up some time, right? Easter dinner will be in my dining room — and kitchen, and living room — this year and I'm ready, more or less, thanks to the help of plenty of loved ones. (Okay, I'm not really ready, but I've been eating plenty of Jordan almonds and making lists!)

My children have plenty of things. When I travel without the boys, instead of bringing back t-shirts (they have hundreds) or snow globes (one is more than enough), I like to share the experience with them, often by cooking something new I enjoyed away from home. When we vacation as a family, we often return with new favorites to add to our regular menu. Here's how that plays out in our home:

This morning, while puttering around my kitchen, I discovered that the rock hard avocados purchased last week from a couple selling them on a nearby street corner (three for a dollar!) had finally ripened. A gentle squeeze tells me they're probably perfect. The radishes I forgot in my market bag, however, seem to have gone a little beyond ripe, although they may be good for sautéing. And the bread I brought home on Thursday will probably be ready for bread crumbs on Monday if I don't finish it up by then.

As cooks, the spare and simple truth that all things are in a constant state of change is something we deal with on a daily basis. More

Dinner parties are one of life’s great pleasures: the preparation and planning, the first pop of a cork, the mutual enjoyment of new dishes and old favorites, and the conversation around the table that can last into the wee hours. But what if every night is a dinner party and you have to keep it simple? More often than not, we have extra people around our table, usually aunts, uncles, or grandparents, but we’re happy to welcome friends, as long as they don’t mind eating with children. The meals are simple, served family style, often including recipes from my childhood, and the conversation stays clean. (Little pitchers have big ears and all that.)

It was 'polenta party' time at Faith's house last week, and she served it with a delicious dish of beef braised in red wine. My mouth is watering already. So, the big question we pondered was, what wine or rather what wines to serve alongside this robust, meaty, yet creamy dish. Here are some thoughts on how to choose wines to go with this meal, and some specific budget picks.

Getting countertops cleared is easy, right? But what about keeping them that way for more than a day? Now, that's the tricky part! Here are five habits that can help keep your countertops clear and make for more enjoyable cooking, particularly on busy weeknights! More

Spring officially arrives this week, and what better time for the release of Amy Stewart's delightful new book, The Drunken Botanist. As you're planning your garden, foraging for wild plants, or simply looking for a good cocktail recipe (and cocktail party conversation topics!), you don't want to miss this entertaining and illuminating guide to "the plants that create the world's great drinks." More

I don’t believe in making pretend work in the kitchen for children, the kind of jobs that create more work for me. I’m not that nice. Do it right, or don’t do it at all. But they’ll never learn if I don’t teach them, will they? Finding tasks they can do saves me time. Also? It keeps them nearby, so we can chat and enjoy the work together. Here are eight kitchen tasks that kids can do that will actually help you out. 

Lately I've been looking to add more healthy seafood to my diet without breaking the bank, and while canned fish will never have the allure of a fresh filet, today's good-quality canned salmon is not the fishy, bone-studded mush you may be picturing. The boneless and skinless fish — once flaked and mixed with brown rice, cilantro, shallots and lime juice — cooks up into crisp-edged cakes that make an easy and satisfying weeknight meal, especially when topped with a dollop of Sriracha-spiked mayonnaise.