You can never have too many chicken salad recipes in your arsenal, especially with engagement party and bridal shower season upon us — it's the quintessential dish for casual entertaining. I guarantee this version, with its delicious parsley walnut pesto, will be your favorite for years to come.

The Meatball Cookbook isn't the sort of title that immediately appeals to vegetarians like myself, so for weeks it sat unattended on the shelf. Then one day I finally gave Jez Felwick's new cookbook a gander. (Ensuing conversation with meat-eating boyfriend: Me: Wow, this book is actually very cool. Him: That's what I've been saying!) As I happily discovered, The Meatball Cookbook is for all of us: omnivores, vegetarians, comfort food lovers, flavor seekers, and anyone who's ready to enjoy endless varieties of meat-, fish-, and vegetable-balls. 

We've talked about the delicious sweet treat that bacon becomes when it's candied in the oven. (Seriously, if you haven't tried it, then there's no excuse for not running to the store this instant.) But this time around, you might want to grab a bottle of beer to put a new twist on this gooey, crisp, irresistible snack. More

For me -- and for many Southerners, I presume -- Easter is the first real mark of spring. We dress our houses and tables (and even ourselves) to impress, pulling out all the stops from the freshest flowers to the fanciest flatware. We join together to celebrate a time of joy, renewal, and life. And then we eat! Here's a look back at my own Easter weekend celebration, with a recipe for a classic Southern ham, warm and glossy with a mustard glaze.

You may be thinking that a recipe for a thick, hearty soup is a bit odd considering that yesterday was the first day of spring. But this Spanish bean soup is not just any soup. Rather, it is a soup sent straight from the soup gods (if the soup gods took the form of my future mother-in-law).

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When I think about throwing a dinner party, especially a big one like this polenta supper I'm sharing with you this week, my thoughts immediately go to: What can I make ahead? Last week, I had an easy answer: a shredded, succulent mess of beef braised in red wine and tomatoes, falling apart in its juices. It's a terrific make-ahead dish, since like most braises, this beef gets better overnight, and takes all the stress of a main dish off your hands entirely. Sound good? It gets better. 

I'm a total meatball fiend, whether they're of Swedish, Italian, or Southern descent. (Grape jelly ring a bell?) In a sloppy sandwich, meatballs become even more appealing — and doubly so when in "small-bite" slider form. Take my spin on Chicken Parmesan. Chicken meatballs are stuffed with cubes of mozzarella, doused in marinara, and finished off with a generous dusting of Parmesan. Think it sounds like too much hassle for lunch? Check your freezer first.

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Ah, bacon. We use it in every meal, from breakfast straight through to dinner and even on into dessert. While it can seem like a messy endeavor, cooking bacon on the stovetop is the classic way to crisp up those delicious strips of smokey goodness and it's dead simple to boot. Read on for our step by step guide, including tips for choosing a good pan, dealing with splattering, and getting rid of that lingering fried bacon smell. More

Q: Since my husband and I discovered Fresh & Easy we have been overjoyed to have an easy place to get British back bacon. (He is English, and I lived in England for several years.) Well, Fresh & Easy is in the process of closing up shop. 

Goulash. Just saying it sounds funny, right? But what exactly is it, anyways? Well, it really depends on who, or where, you ask. As for my version, I may not be able to claim its history or origin, but I can definitely claim it as delicious. That's good enough for me! More