Lisa Appleton

Ready to get baking with apples this fall? Pick one of these five varieties for the best results.

Ready to get baking with apples this fall? Pick one of these five varieties for the best results.

When you buy pans at the store, their size is clearly labeled, but when you inherit them from family or find them at a garage sale, it’s a little harder to decide. You may have a good eye for these things, but for those of us less fortunate, here’s a quick and easy tip for finding the volume of baking pans. Knowing the size you have on hand can make or break a recipe. The trick is actually very simple and requires very little effort.

A Bundt cake is not your average cake. While all cakes strive to be delicious, the Bundt cake can be a little more fun and pretty than some other presentations simply because of the pan it’s baked in. To make sure you get the best cakes every time, avoid these five mistakes. Bundt cake recipes describe the Bundt pan by the number of cups of batter that it holds. Overfill it and your cake will overflow in the oven.

Let it do the work while you play.

Making a satisfying soup on a weeknight is a delicious possibility, as long as you’ve got a good game plan. Sometimes that’s just as simple as having a good trick or two up your sleeve, like pre-chopping the vegetables ahead of time or gussying up a can or box of pre-made soup, and sometimes it means using your slow cooker. Here are 10 smart strategies to help you make weeknight homemade soup a reality.

Summer’s here and the grilling’s easy — or at least it will be. From the entrée to the side to dessert, this method of cooking is one of the quickest, most flavorful ways to make a meal. With these helpful tips, the grill will be your new go-to for everything including burgers, steaks, salads, and more. For chefs, mise en place simply means to set up an organized work area with everything in it’s place.

Late summer is prime tomato season, which means I’m adding them to every meal I can. They’re so versatile that they can be the star of a dish or fabulous garnish. No matter what shape, size, or color you get, they’re sure to brighten any meal. So use these ideas to pack in all the tomatoes you can before the season ends. Yes, this is an obvious one, but tomato salads are anything but boring. Make this as simple or complicated as you’d like.

I would be highly surprised to find someone who doesn’t like a breakfast sandwich of some kind. They are typically very easy to make and they don’t take a lot of time to put together. They keep you full until lunch and they’re a good choice for a breakfast on the go. But that’s also why it’s very easy to get stuck in a breakfast sandwich rut.

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Even when I’m crunched for time in the morning, I always make breakfast. Since sandwiches are so easy to put together, they’ve become my go-to for both lazy weekends and quick meals to eat on the way to work. I do love eggs, but sometimes there’s just no need for them; breakfast sandwiches can be just as delicious and satisfying without them. Here are seven eggless ideas to add to your weekly routine.

When you think of a breakfast sandwich, I’m guessing the classic bacon, egg, and cheese (or something very similar) comes to mind. Yes, that’s a delicious option, but it’s not the only one. Breakfast sandwiches are also a smart place to pack with vegetables, so start your day off right with these ideas to squeeze more wholesome veggies into your morning meal. An easy, low-carb breakfast is in reach.

There’s no denying that gluten-free products are popping up everywhere in the grocery store. You can find replacements for almost everything including bread, pasta, waffles, pancakes, baked goods, and more. But what if you didn’t have to buy a replacement? There are lots of naturally gluten-free products out there as well. Here are seven ways to eat breakfast sandwiches without bread. Crisp, refreshing lettuce is a great alternative to sandwich bread.

Take a moment and think of your favorite breakfast sandwich. If it’s made with bread, what kind? What are the fillings? Does it have meat, eggs, or cheese in it? Some of you might be thinking of the classic egg and cheese, while some might picture a vegan medley of vegetables without any egg and cheese at all. No matter what you dream of eating in the morning, here are three tips to make any breakfast sandwich better.

The summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean you have to put away the grill for the year. There are still plenty of nice days left to master the grill and get quick, delicious dinners on the table. The first step is knowing the basics. Although there are many brands, shapes, and sizes of grills on the market, there are a few things that will always stay the same. Turn to these five tips for grilling success every time.

A thunderstorm is the perfect excuse to stay inside all day, but it doesn’t mean you have to cancel your plans. There’s plenty you can do at home that you were planning to do elsewhere — especially when it comes to the kitchen. Have friends over for a little get-together, or treat yourself at home — just don’t let the rain get in the way. Here are five fun food ideas to make while it’s pouring outside.

Pantry-friendly recipes are there for you when you need to put a quick meal together. It’s usually something familiar and probably something the whole family enjoys, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it more interesting. Turn to the pantry for inspiration on adding variety to your dishes and making a recipe feel new again. Here are five easy ideas for pantry staples.

Lentils are a hearty addition to any dish, yet they are often an underused ingredient. They cook quickly, especially when compared to other legumes or beans, and are just as versatile (they work in burgers, soups, and salads). So if you aren’t in the habit yet, making a big batch on Sunday means a week of delicious meals at your fingertips. Whether you’re new to lentils or just want a refresher on cooking them, here are five tips to help you make a pot to be proud of.

Summer may be over, but that’s not a good reason to put the grill away for the year. Sure, there might be a slight chill in the air, but that’s even more reason to warm up by the cooking fire. Even with a grill pan on the stove, it’s hard to replicate the grill lines and flavor that comes from an outdoor grill. Here are five reasons you should make the grill your go-to in fall. Tailgating without some kind of food is unheard of, and even more so without the grill.

Brussels sprouts can be so much more than the boiled, bitter side dish that some of us may have had in our childhood. A tasty dish of Brussels sprouts starts with the Brussels sprouts that you buy and how you prepare them for cooking. So the next time you buy and cook Brussels sprouts, use these five tips for even tastier results. When you’re shopping for Brussels sprouts, look for balls with tight, compact leaves. They should be bright green, without any browned spots or yellowing leaves.

During Hanukkah (and well beyond), there are bound to be many briskets gracing tables around America. Braised brisket takes time, but a great brisket is not hard to bring to the table. These seven simple tips will help you make a better brisket every time. There’s a delicate balance here. Leave too much fat and the braising liquid you’re left with will be greasy. However, you don’t want to cut off too much fat; fat equals flavor in the final dish.

Rich tomato soup is a classic recipe rivaled only by maybe chicken noodle or matzo ball in nostalgia. While you might have a go-to recipe, there are always things you can do to soup to boost the flavor. For tomato soup in particular, here are a few things you can do to make it better every time. This probably isn’t a surprise, as basil and tomatoes are a delicious duo.

Bundt cakes are made extra special by the shape of the pan they are baked in. While they all have the standard open tube down the middle, the design and shape of the sides can be any number of things. You want to take every precaution to ensure that your cake comes out of the mold in one piece. Here’s the best way to prevent sticking. Nonstick pans are important, but don’t trust only a pan.

You’ve made the leap and bought a carbon steel pan. (If you haven’t, you should definitely give them a try.) They’re a versatile kitchen pan that can go from stovetop to oven without problems. They hold their heat well and over time you can create a nonstick surface much like cast iron. Plus, they’re relatively inexpensive. Now it’s time to get into the kitchen and get familiar with what this pan can do.