Do manners matter? Well, yes, of course. White gloves may not be relevant in most circles these days, but a little courtesy never hurt anyone. I'm not sure where I got "White Gloves and Party Manners," because my mother wasn't terribly concerned with rules for situations that would likely never happen. (Her advice on complicated place settings: use the silverware from the outside in and, when in doubt, do whatever the oldest lady at the table does, because manners dictate that she's always right.) I teach my own children manners, constantly and without drama, just like my mother taught me.

Not long ago, my neighbors and I got together for a quiet tea-and-knitting evening. The idea was to enjoy some company and maybe get a small project done or add a few rows onto a knitting project. We all brought things to nibble and the hostess made ginger tea. Some of us knit, one of us sorted receipts, and the others just came for the company. Busy schedules aside, this was easy to organize and easy to pull together. Not much happened:  a few inches of a scarf came into being, a few stories were told, several cups of tea were drunk. Wild times, eh?

There are a few reasons I rarely make cheesecake. First and most important, there are just the two of us at home and I can't think of any occasion that would warrant us needing a whole cheesecake sitting around the house. Second, it's not the simplest dessert to make with the fuss of hot water baths and inevitable cracking. That's why I was excited to stumble upon these individual, no-bake cheesecakes last week. 

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. 

A farm to table dinner, when the chef works closely with the farmer to plan the menu, is the most fun way possible to explore local offerings, eat what's truly in season and get to know a few new local people who love food like you do. Normally, I think this treat — not an inexpensive one — should be reserved for appreciative adults. But recently, we had the chance to enjoy such a dinner with our teenaged son — it was a pleasure and I may have changed my tune.

Where there's brunch, there are Bloody Marys. So at this Sunday's Cinco de Mayo brunch celebration, it just makes sense that we'll be happily sipping Mary's Mexican cousin: the Bloody Maria.

If you've ever hosted a multi-generational gathering, you know the question of what music to play is a tough one. You don't want to see Grandma huddled in the corner covering her ears, or your friend's teenage cousin rolling her eyes all night. So I turned to a professional for help — my pal Ian Gotler, wedding DJ extraordinaire, who knows how to make a playlist that appeals to people of all ages. (And if you're in the mood for dancing, be sure to check out his bonus dance mix!)

Last weekend my sister and I threw our younger sister a bridal shower, and it was a chance to indulge our love for all things hot pink and glam, and make some tasty food, too. Want a peek at the menu? 

It's Cinco de Mayo this weekend! The perfect reason to grab a bunch of friends, open the windows (hopefully...), and dig into some good food and drink. If you haven't started planning your fiesta yet, it's not too late: here's a menu plan that will help you put together everything from the guacamole to the margaritas.

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.