Cooking – Live Laugh Love Do http://livelaughlovedo.com A Super Fun Site Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:27:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 The Best Cookbooks of Fall 2025 http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/the-best-cookbooks-of-fall-2025/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/the-best-cookbooks-of-fall-2025/#respond Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:27:23 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/09/21/the-best-cookbooks-of-fall-2025/ [ad_1]

This fall, there’s a roster of new cookbooks catching our team’s attention. They’re telling us about pantry ingredients we absolutely need, transporting us to new places without ever having to step on a plane, and giving no shortage of outright delicious recipes. We have been composing meal-worthy salads from Linger, simmering ragù from Six Seasons of Pasta, and baking chunky-chewy cookies from Mokonuts. Read on for our standout titles of the season and don’t forget to add one or two to your cart.

Believe it or not, one of the best eats in Paris is a good ol’ American-style cookie. Mokonuts, a beloved cafe and bakery serving up a Lebanese- and Japanese-inflected menu, is always a must-stop when I find myself in the city of love. Chef-owners (and inspiring real-life couple) Omar Koreitem and Moko Hirayama dip into their respective heritages to dream up inventive dishes, but one of their most popular offerings is the cookies. Chubby and chewy, they host everything from traditional chocolate to tahini, miso, rye, and sesame seeds. While it is hard work to pin down a favorite, the Chocochunk Cookies are iconic and have a cult following of their own. When I saw that Koeitem and Hirayama were kind enough to include the recipe for these in the Mokonuts cookbook, I knew it would be the first thing I made. The recipe gives precise instructions like once baked, “tap each cookie in the middle”—a technique the two found from David Lebovitz’s blog. The tapping essentially slows down the cooking in the center of the cookie, offering a chewy, soft bite. Balanced and loaded with rich chocolate flavor, these instantly transported me back to their charming eatery in the 11th arrondissement. —Hana Asbrink, deputy food editor

There are few cookbooks I reference as often as Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables by chef Joshua McFadden. Filled with simple yet skillful approaches to everyday seasonal, vegetable-forward cooking, it’s no wonder it’s been considered one of the most influential cookbooks of the last decade. With his third book, Six Seasons of Pasta, McFadden brings welcome inspiration to an ingredient in just about everyone’s cupboard: dried pasta. Similar to his debut book, this one is structured by season, bringing to the fore his strongest skill as a recipe developer: his ability to transform vegetables. Though McFadden’s cooking will always be rooted in seasonality, the real value in the book is his ability to turn a sauce into a method. Ragù is no longer reserved for red meat; it’s a general technique of slow-cooking the condiment. (Think Chicken Ragù Bianco and Charred Vegetable Ragù.) Pesto can go beyond basil and pine nuts; it can also be made with tangy sun-dried tomatoes and almonds. From classic to innovative takes, this book gives you the fundamentals to intuitively build pasta at home. —June Kim, head of digital video

Six Seasons of Pasta: A New Way with Everyone’s Favorite Food

Charred Vegetable Ragu on a white platter

I fell in love with chef Arnold Myint’s cooking in 2023 when he contributed three bright, flavor-packed salad recipes to Epicurious. Hoping for more inspiration via vibrant Thai food, I was thrilled to cook through his debut cookbook Family Thai. The book is filled with dishes that celebrate Myint’s Thai-Burmese heritage, fused with the southern culinary traditions of Nashville, where he’s based. Many of them, like Mom’s Eggplant Curry, are attributed to his mother, a prolific cook herself. His mother, with his father, opened International Market & Restaurant, which operated for 40 years, and then officially reopened in 2022 under the watch of Myint and his sister. Just like the restaurant, this cookbook tenderly celebrates Myint’s family legacy. The book starts with the basics, featuring a section on essential Thai pantry ingredients, then eases you into how to make building block components like Sticky Rice and Fresh Rice Noodles, and eventually transitions into recipes that give you much to dream about. There are zingy salads (think spicy grilled shrimp lettuce wraps), saucy stir-fries like Bacon Pad Krapao, and aromatic-packed curries. A standout was the bold and briny Green Curry Mussels—it comes together in just a few minutes but tastes like you’ve been building flavor over the stove for hours. Next up for me? The Corn and Tapioca Pudding is calling. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager

Family Thai: Bringing the Flavors of Thailand Home

The Best Cookbooks of Fall 2025

When I heard the vegetable whisperer Hetty Lui McKinnon was coming out with another vegetarian cookbook, this time focused on salads (and sweets), I got my hands on it as fast as I could. Sifting through the pages of Linger, I quickly learned that this was not just a cookbook, but a wondrous collection of McKinnon’s heartfelt essays and composed menus, as well as playlists curated by none other than her daughter Scout. The inspiration for this book came from a past career, when McKinnon prepared salads and delivered them by pedal (biking, that is) in Sydney, Australia, a project under the name of Arthur Street Kitchen. The simple exchange of salad was a way for McKinnon to develop a kinship with her community. “Salads unleashed me. In a bowl (or box) of salad, I found a new beginning, renewed purpose, a sense of belonging, connection with others and self-acceptance. Salads gave me the confidence to roam and explore, but unexpectedly, it also brought me back home,” she shares. The recipes that follow encourage that intimate connection, as well as draw inspiration from McKinnon’s Chinese-Australian background. I cooked her Mapo Tofu Salad, where tender cabbage meets pillowy-centered tofu (with a shatteringly crisp exterior), all coated in a tingly, almost fruity dubanjiang and Sichuan peppercorn dressing. Next, I plan to make her whole roasted cauliflower, buried under a monstrous mountain of dill. McKinnon’s opinions are tenacious and specific, offering nuggets of wisdom like, “salads don’t always have leaves; “think of fruit as a vegetable;” and “anything can be a salad.” I, for one, couldn’t agree more. —Nina Moskowitz, associate editor, cooking

Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor

Mapo Tofu Salad on a plate

As a parent of school-aged children, my first thought when I picked up Alice Waters’ A School Lunch Revolution was, “Oh good! New ideas to try out on my kids for the school year.” But within two pages, I realized this was not a book of fun first grader-approved time-saving meal prep hacks. It was a cri de coeur. Nominally, this is a book of recipes, but Waters (the chef and founder of Chez Panisse, the Berkeley restaurant often credited with bringing farm-to-table cuisine into the mainstream) seems to have created a blueprint for the ways in which we should feed our kids organic foods, both at home and at school. She writes about her Edible Schoolyard Project that began in Berkeley (and has since extended to public schools around the country), which provides students with education in gardening, cooking, and other hands-on experiences while supplying food directly to their school to prepare. Every recipe in the book was designed specifically to fall within the guidelines for the USDA’s school lunch reimbursement program (when Waters wrote this, the 2023-2024 reimbursable rate was $4.25 per person for lunch and $2.28 per person for breakfast). Further, most of the recipes seem simple enough that in the right cafeteria setting, they could be scaled up to feed a school’s lunch rush. But while they’re simple, they also take time. The Chicken Congee only has five ingredients, but it cooks for two hours. It’s a similar story with her hearty chili (a big hit with my six-year-old who—mysteriously—has gotten into soups and stews over the summer). Waters’s world of whole foods is one we can create if we take the time. —Noah Kaufman, senior commerce editor

A School Lunch Revolution: A Cookbook

The latest cookbook from culinary historian and anthropologist Michael W. Twitty, Recipes from the American South, is an ambitious, sweeping survey of America’s most diverse and complex regional foodways. Twitty’s thoroughly researched compendium takes us deep into Southern food’s roots in Native American, African, and European cuisines. He shows how a range of cultures, from Salvadoran to Kurdish Muslim to Filipino, have made their mark on Southern foodways over hundreds of years. The classics we know and love today are all here: Pickled Watermelon Rinds, Seared Red Snapper, Cathead Biscuits. But the real appeal of this book is in going beyond the familiar. If you’re anything less than a scholar of Southern food, there will be myriad histories, flavors, and dishes to discover in these pages. Think Sorghum-Brined Chicken in Cabbage Leaves, Peanut and Oyster Soup, and North Carolina Peach Sonker With Dip (that’s a more moist cobbler with a milky topping, by the way.) I made the Macaroni Pie, which called for twelve different ground spices, resulting in a complex dish blending West African with Medieval European flavors, quite different from versions I’ve made in the past. Each and every recipe is a lesson, as much about cooking technique as it is about culinary history. —Maria Paz Mendez Hodes, director of creative development

Recipes from the American South

Grape dumplings in a serving bowl
Mississippi mud cakes on plates

I’m the type of person who uses a recipe as a guide. Once I’ve made something a couple of times, I know where I can add substitutions and deviate from the outline. Breaking the Rules by Top Chef alum Joe Sasto embraces this philosophy to the max. In his book, he’s consistently looking for ways to “break the rules,” to employ an added technique to a recipe, or swap in an ingredient to “chef it up.” There’s sound advice scattered throughout: Use a combo of black garlic and garlic confit in your Caesar salad dressing for a fermented umami zing, or finish your pasta with homemade corn stock to add some sweetness. I made Rosemary and Blackberry Focaccia With Whipped Mortadella, a multi-step recipe that is by all means worth the effort. I would have never thought to put mortadella in a blender, but the result is a spreadable, savory delight. A highlight for me, however, was the Pasta Alla Mezcal. A take on the very popular vodka variety, Sasto swaps in a different spirit, which adds a deeply smoky flavor. I’ll be using mezcal to make this dish from here on out. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, associate director of social media

Breaking the Rules: A Fresh Take on Italian Classics

Mezcal pasta with basil in blue bowls

My longtime source of baking inspiration (and mental hand-holding when I attempt a new, ambitious confection) is renowned baker Dorie Greenspan. Hers are the cookbooks I flip through to understand how a tricky technique really works, or to glean creativity for the many cookie swaps that fill my calendar each holiday season. Greenspan’s recipes always, always work; and her flavor combinations feel both comfortingly familiar and enticingly innovative all at once. When I began to page through her newest book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes, I immediately flagged the recipe she labeled “inviting to the extreme” (for other interested parties, it’s the Pears, Nuts and Rye, Oh My “coffeecake-ish” cake.) All of the recipes in this book are for “anytime cakes,” Greenspan’s name for the kind of simple bakes you eat right out of the pan, slice off chunk by chunk for an afternoon treat, or just have on the counter, waiting for the person who needs a bite of something sweet. The aforementioned pear coffeecake features an earthy combo of rye, spelt, and hazelnut flours that bake up dense and nutty—not gummy or grainy. Its warm and juicy pears, with a floral, honeyed taste of their own, stand up to the cake’s crumb while simultaneously melting into it just at their soft edges. Splashes of Armagnac, vanilla and almond extracts, plus a sprinkling of freshly ground nutmeg, round out the mild tartness from the pears. Drizzles of honey, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a sweetened cream-and-yogurt topping are the literal icing on the cake. —Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior service editor

As a self-proclaimed mayo skeptic, only former Bon Appétit staffers Jessie YuChen and Elyse Inamine could rope me into cooking through their love letter to the best version out there: Kewpie mayonnaise. For the Love of Kewpie touches on how the creamy condiment made its way into all of our hearts, while offering up inventive iterations on so many of the classic dishes we know and love. Think spaghetti and Kewpie meatballs, Fluffy Japanese Pancakes, and tangy Caesar Salad. I was instantly drawn to YuChen and Inamine’s take on Honey-Walnut Shrimp. It has everything you’d want in a bite: crispy fried shrimp doused in a velvety Kewpie sauce sweetened with condensed milk. The shrimp sit on a bed of blanched broccoli, with homemade candied nuts and a scattering of sesame seeds. —Inés Anguiano, associate test kitchen manager

For the Love of Kewpie: A Cookbook and Celebration

OvenFried Shrimp on a green plate with Kewpie
Fluffy Japanese pancakes on a clear plate

You’ve seen her on TV, you’ve bought her makeup; now, Kim Chi wants to feed you. In her debut cookbook, Kim Chi Eats the World, the drag superstar and artist shows off her cooking chops, proving that food, much like drag, “is a bold, unapologetic, and dazzling form of self-expression.” The book is a culinary passport filled with 75 of Kim Chi’s personal recipes inspired by her travels around the world. Forget complicated techniques; this is about clever, efficient fun. I’m talking about weeknight hacks like her genius Rice Cooker Paella (a hands-off trick I’ve sung from the rooftops on numerous occasions), and fascinating discoveries like a Swiss Roasted Flour Soup, a five-ingredient dish made with toasted flour, butter, beef broth, red wine, and Gruyère. Early on, Kim Chi keeps it real, stating, “These are not authentic recipes! They are my take on dishes I love.” Who wants to be trapped by “authenticity” when you can explore the delicious mess of cultural exchange? Subtly (for a drag-influenced cookbook, at least), this book celebrates food without borders and the intersection of immigrant cuisine in non-US locales, like Chinese-Peruvian Lomo Saltado, and Italian-Japanese Pasta Napolitan. Even South Korean corndogs, largely influenced by US hot dog culture, make an appearance. Featuring bright, highly saturated photography by Andrea D’Agosto, Tyna Hoang’s food styling, and Ruth Kim’s prop styling, plus plenty of high camp portraits of Kim Chi herself, this cookbook reimagines global cuisine through the prism of drag—it’s stylish, showstopping, and so fun to consume. —Joseph Hernandez, associate director of drinks & lifestyle

Kim Chi Eats the World: 75 Recipes Fit for a (Drag) Queen – A Cookbook

Anaïs Ca Dao van Manen’s Vietnam is a detailed tome of cultural and culinary knowledge that showcases the vast range of Vietnamese cuisine, shining a light on lesser-known regional dishes. Chef and consultant Ca Dao van Manen provides historical context for the cookbook’s many recipes, and even meal combinations for different occasions, so readers understand how certain dishes may fit together. Recipes often feature specialty ingredients—golden ants, or periwinkle sea snails—captured in lush, soft-patina photography; the presentation of these rarely seen ingredients as visual treats in and of themselves feels considered. Ca Dao van Manen also prudently provides substitutions, ensuring home cooks can capture the intended flavors with more commonly found ingredients while remaining faithful to each dish’s origin. From my own cooking, the Stir-Fried Corn With Spring Onion Oil made a great savory side to a friend’s halibut ceviche, and the Cendol Sweet Soup With Red Beans, while somewhat challenging (tapioca starch can be finicky), offered a refreshing, textural payoff. Inspired by my visits to Ha’s Snack Bar—one of Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants that serves snails in tamarind butter—I made Ca Dao van Manen’s tamarind roasted cockles, and plopped in a knob of butter at the end for a velvety finish. —Ingu Chen, art director

In the PBS docuseries Hope in the Water, executive produced by Andrew Zimmern, the celebrity chef offers an educational sermon on the state of thoughtfully-sourced seafood. The Blue Food Cookbook, co-written by Zimmern and educator-chef Barton Seaver, echoes the series’s lessons with words and recipes, marketing itself as a “sustainable seafood bible.” And with nearly 400 pages of tips, guides, stories, and recipes, it lives up to the name. “Blue food” is a term that describes foods like fish, seafood, and seweed that we harvest from oceans, rivers, and lakes. The book dives into sourcing and storing blue food with food supply and aquatic ecosystems in mind. It includes a guide to families of fish, shellfish, and seaweed, and explores pantry pairings from seafood spices to wine pairings. There’s a section on seafood-specific equipment and cooking techniques, before reaching the thick section of recipes from the two top chefs. “Butter-basting scallops is about as sexy as seafood cooking gets,” Zimmern writes in the headnote for Butter-Basted Scallops With Apple Cider Brown Butter. Intrigued by the cozy autumnal flavors, I made the dish: The scallops were pan-seared with an herbaceous, mustardy cider sauce spooned over top. Minimalist yet sophisticated, the recipe treated the seafood with the kind of thoughtfulness and reverie that could only come from Seaver and Zimmern’s continued commitment to the blue foods conversation. —Arietta Hallock, editorial intern

The Blue Food Cookbook: Delicious Seafood Recipes for a Sustainable Future

The recipes in Bon Appétit alumna Alison Roman’s latest cookbook, Something From Nothing, are luxuriously simple and incredibly chic. They call upon high-quality pantry staples to turn out truly flavorful meals with little fanfare. Each and every dish would fit equally into a weeknight dinner rotation or party-hosting menu. Roman quite successfully makes the case—both tacitly through her recipes and very literally in her resonant foreword—that good produce, a few tins of anchovies, and a can of beans can turn out some of the most nourishing pastas, meaty mains, soups, and more. She writes: “What the recipes here lack in bells and whistles, they make up for in soul and unimpeachable deliciousness.” I made Crispy Fish With Dill & Fried Capers, which embodies the book’s driving principles. It was incredibly bright, forgiving, and uncomplicated, calling for white fish coated in panko (laced with finely chopped dill), pan-fried until golden, and draped over a bed of garlicky yogurt—a cooling counterpoint to the fried fish. The finishing (and absolutely non-negotiable) garnish saw capers and thin garlic slices browned in oil, then showered over top. Come soup season, I’m eyeing Roman’s Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & A Pat of Butter. —Li Goldstein, associate newsletter editor

Something from Nothing: A Cookbook

MasterChef Australia winner Nat Thaipun wrote her debut cookbook Thai with the intention to preserve the kinds of Thai family recipes you won’t typically find on takeout menus. She couples these heartfelt dishes with practical tips, like how to repurpose leftover meat bones into a chicken stock for tom yum soup or how to get extra smoky noodles (don’t stir and let them take on char). Rifling through the pages, I discovered gems I’d never heard of before, like Nam Sod, a zingy, gingery pork salad that gets tucked into lettuce leaves. There were also creative twists on dishes I was already familiar with, like juicy Watermelon Larb sprinkled with ground toasted rice and fresh mint. After an exhausting day in the office testing juicers, I made Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) from the book, and the recipe was exactly what I needed: saucy, chewy, and most importantly, easy to follow. In under 20 minutes, I was transported to Thailand, enjoying fiery flavors without having to leave my kitchen table. —Olivia Tarantino, senior commerce editor

THAI: Anywhere and Everywhere

More fall books we’re excited to cook from:

  • The Art of Gluten-Free Bread by Aran Goyoaga: Three-time James Beard Award-finalist Aran Goyoaga has brought us a book dedicated to gluten-free bakes—think baguettes, bagels, and flaky croissants. Goyoaga shares a clear path for success with a range of recipes that make use of alternate flours and smart techniques.
  • Pastry Temple by Christina Wood: Owner and head pastry chef of Seattle’s Temple Pastries Christina Wood is demystifying the intimidating world of pastry by sharing the fundamentals for brioche, puff pastry, and croissants, plus 30+ truly exceptional sweet and savory recipes.
  • Lebanese Baking by Maureen Abood: In chef Maureen Abood’s cookbook, she shares a collection of Lebanese bakes, from traditional versions to new innovations like Baklawa Cheesecake and Muhammara Manakeesh.
  • Three Cheers by Kaitlyn Stewart: In bartending champion Kaitlyn Stewart’s debut book, Stewart shares three versions of 55 impressive cocktails (including a classic, riff, and zero-proof version) for every occasion.
  • Dobre Dobre by Laurel Kratochvila: James Beard Award-finalist Laurel Kratochvila guides you through Polish baking tradition, old and new, Jewish and diasporic, with recipes like Horseradish, Beet, and Summer Greens Bialys and Rose and Almond Jewel Rugelach.
  • Homemade Ramen by Sho Spaeth: In recipe developer Sho Spaeth’s debut cookbook, Spaeth gives readers a guide to making phenomenal ramen at home. This includes step-by-step photographs for making soup bases, chewy noodles, and plenty of toppings.
  • Milk Street Shorts by Christopher Kimball: From the James Beard Award-winning team at Milk Street, Christopher Kimball shares casual, improvisational, and short recipes to add to your kitchen repertoire with dishes like Five-Ingredient Pork and Kimchi Stew and Clementine Blender Cake.
  • Measure With Your Heart by Hannah Taylor: Social media creator Hannah Taylor, behind the infamous account LilyLouTay, has created a cookbook focusing on from-scratch Southern cooking, featuring recipes like Finger Lickin’ Fried Chicken and Aunt Teisha’s Cowboy Caviar.
  • The King Cookbook by Annie Shi, Clare de Boer, and Jess Shadbolt: Clare de Boer, Jess Shadbolt, and Annie Shi, owners of NYC’s beloved King restaurant, are publishing 120 of their elegant, seasonal recipes. From fried ribbons of chickpea batter to flourless chocolate cake, fans of King and those new to the authors are sure to enjoy cooking.
  • A Kitchen in Italy by Mimi Thorisson: Writer Mimi Thorisson published her first cookbook, A Kitchen in France, which shared recipes from the French countryside. Now, she’s found a home in Italy and has created a second cookbook, featuring Italian dishes that celebrate the seasons.
  • Around the World in 80 Meatballs by Bunny Banyai: In writer Bunny Banyai’s debut cookbook, Banyai celebrates meatballs from across the globe. With diverse recipes (like Bulgarian Chirpanski) coupled with rich history and traditions, this book is both comprehensive and joyful.



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Goldilocks Cookware Review: The Best Budget Pans We’ve Tested http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/goldilocks-cookware-review-the-best-budget-pans-weve-tested/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/goldilocks-cookware-review-the-best-budget-pans-weve-tested/#respond Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:39:29 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/07/31/goldilocks-cookware-review-the-best-budget-pans-weve-tested/ [ad_1]

Very few of us are afforded the luxury of a full arsenal of All-Clad pans when we move into our first apartment. As nice as it would be for your first set of cookware to be the only set of cookware you ever have to buy, it’s much more likely that the foundation of your first kitchen will be an eclectic medley of economical cookware.

Having tested pots and pans for years now, I must (somewhat reluctantly) admit that well-made, more-expensive cookware consistently performs better than budget counterparts. By “performs better,” I mean it distributes heat more evenly, is less likely to scorch food, and tends to be more comfortable to handle, both in balance and weight. (But you can read more about all that in our reviews here.)

But this doesn’t mean budget cookware is patently unusable. Cheaper pots and pans are often less forgiving of common mistakes. It’s easier to burn food if the heat’s too high, and they’re more prone to warping if you accidentally shock them with cold water—two things green cooks tend to do. However, this doesn’t make them useless. If anything, they might help you become a better cook as you learn through the process of trial and error…and I’m speaking from personal experience!

That said, some lines of budget cookware are certainly better than others. Taking price, performance, design, and overall quality into consideration, my go-to affordable recommendation is definitely Goldilocks. Here’s why.

What I like about Goldilocks Cookware

Goldilocks pots and pans consistently impressed us with their performance and design during testing. We were able to brown onions and crisp up chicken thighs with relative ease. They’re lightweight, making them easy to maneuver with one hand. The pans have spacious surface areas for better searing and browning, and the cooking surface isn’t particularly sticky either.

In general, the shape and design of the skillet and sauté pan are similar to the broad and shallow dimensions of All-Clad pans. Goldilocks strays more with the saucepans, opting for a more typical ratio between diameter and height (All-Clad saucepans are notably tall and more narrow), but it’s clear that the makers of these pans have thought these things through.

The pans are made with tri-ply construction: two layers of stainless steel surrounding an aluminum core. For a while, cladding was synonymous with high-end cookware (hence the name All-Clad) because this layered construction distributes heat more evenly across the pan. These days, cladding is standard on most decent stainless-steel cookware, but it’s still a reliable marker of quality.

Goldilocks sells two main cookware sets simply named The Cookware Set and The Cookware Set Plus. The basic set consists of two saucepans, a 10″ skillet, and a stockpot, and three lids, with the largest fitting both the skillet and the stockpot. The plus set includes an additional 12″ skillet. They also offer a couple of other pieces, like a 3.5-quart sauté pan and a 6-quart Dutch oven. For these cookware sets, the price-to-quality ratio is pretty fantastic, with the 7-piece set going for $235.

Goldilocks Cookware Set Plus

What I don’t like about Goldilocks

Praise aside, these pans do suffer from some shortcomings. They are a bit more volatile over the heat, prone to scorching and burning if you aren’t keeping an eye on your sautéed onions. (It should be noted that similarly priced pans we’ve tested were just as, if not more, prone to this as well.) Higher quality stainless steel cookware heats at a more consistent and even pace, allowing for gradual yet expedient warming that encourages browning rather than burning. So a more reactive pan requires more attention.

The metal finish on these pans isn’t quite as polished as more expensive cookware, with an ever-so-slight rough finish on the cooking surface. While this surface texture didn’t significantly impact the pan’s performance, it did make the pan more prone to discoloration with repeated use.

Bottom line: These pans are still great.

Despite a few criticisms, I think it’s important to note that these differences in quality are really only perceptible when comparing pans in a controlled side-by-side environment. Cookware is as capable as the hands that wield it, so if you have a basic understanding of how to cook, I am confident that these pans will serve you well. Who knows, you might end up holding onto these for years and years to come.

Goldilocks 3.5-Quart Sauté Pan

Goldilocks 6-Quart Dutch Oven


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397: Nine Favorite Things. – Half Baked Harvest http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/397-nine-favorite-things-half-baked-harvest/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/397-nine-favorite-things-half-baked-harvest/#respond Mon, 14 Jul 2025 01:32:55 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/07/14/397-nine-favorite-things-half-baked-harvest/

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Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Nine Favorite Things

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all having a beautiful weekend and soaking up some summer sunshine, wherever you are in the world. I’m writing this week’s update from home in Colorado, where I’ll be staying put for at least the next few weeks.

After dealing with a swollen ankle for the past week or so, I found out it’s actually more serious than I initially thought—or honestly wanted to believe. With my high pain tolerance and very type-A personality, I was convinced it was just tendonitis. But it turns out, it’s a small fracture.

I’m doing my best to listen to my orthopedic doctor and give it the time it needs to fully heal and not make it any worse! And because of that, I need to postpone the California stops on our summer tour.

Coming to this decision was incredibly hard and makes me so sad—I was really looking forward to meeting you all. But the good news is that our amazing team at Williams Sonoma has already worked with us to reschedule both nights for this fall. Honestly, I think it’s going to be even better. We all know that autumn is my absolute favorite time of year—it’s when I feel most inspired and creative. So you’ll get the best version of me in October!

New Event Dates:

If you’ve already purchased tickets, they’ll automatically apply to the new dates. But if you can’t make it, we completely understand and are happy to issue a refund—just reach out to the team at wsevents@wsgc.com.

I want you to know how truly sorry I am. If there were any way around this, I would be there with you. But some things are out of our control, and right now, healing needs to come first.

There is a silver lining, though. I’ve had a project on the back burner for months that’s finally getting the attention it deserves—and I’m excited to be home and focused on bringing that to life.

Thank you all so much for your kindness and support. I’m endlessly grateful for this community—you feel like extended family, and that means everything to me.

So that’s this week’s update. Not the best news, but not the worst either. Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday and a great week ahead!

And if you need a little summer cooking inspo, be sure to check out The 50 Most Popular Summer Recipes of 2025. There are a lot of goodies here!

1. Things I’m Loving, Wanting, and Excited to Try.

ordering…Frog Hollow Farm peaches. These are my favorite in the summer, and I love that the California growing season happens now, versus August. These peaches have the prettiest color and sweetest flavor. Candies of summer!

ordered…fresh summer roses from Grace Rose Farm! I reached out to Gracie on Friday, and she is sending me fresh roses tomorrow! I am SO EXCITED. Flowers can be hit or miss at our grocery stores. Gracie is always so kind and will send me a couple of bouquets. Truly just cannot wait! I will share photos next week!

taking…100% Grass-Fed Nose-To-Tail Collagen. Finally found a collagen powder. Added this my cart this week. I take collagen daily to support healthy hair, skin, nails, joint and digestion as natural collagen production slowly declines.

everything in my cart (low)…there are so many summer sales happening, so fun to shop! I love this ribbed boatneck top, it’s a great everyday wardrobe staple. I think I shared this Stripe Ruched Knit top last week, but I love it so much! These Eyelet Cover-Up Pants are nice for pool days or just around the house. Oh, and I really love these Day to Day Boxer Shorts from Free People.

Also! These Free People Linen Shorts in light yellow are too cute! J.Crew never disappoints, their Eyelet Short in Linen-Cotton Blend are on sale and a summer staple. As is this super cute Relaxed Cropped T-Shirt, which would look great paired with the eyelet shorts. And shoe-wise, these Kitten Heel Sandals are almost identical to the popular designer pair. Love a good Nordstrom Open Edit find! From Zara, their Strappy Rib Top is another summer wardrobe staple. And I am obsessed with this 3-pack set of rigid bracelets. Great value too! Very last piece, I’m ordering this Boatneck Mini Dress. It will be so cute with sandals.

listening to…Jordan Nathan, Founder of Caraway Home: Clean Kitchen Swaps, Teflon Dangers, Fundraising Lessons & More.

curious to try…After reading this article, Vibration Plate Machines & Exercise Platforms, I’m now so curious to try them. Does anyone use one of these?

dreaming of going…Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor. A Mediterranean escape. My parents have been and loved it. They stayed inland at The Son Net, located on a vineyard.

traveling…HÔTEL DE CRILLON, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL. Researching the best Paris hotels for my upcoming trip! My list is getting big!

loving…Daily Drills. You all will love their cozy pieces. How cute is this Terry One Piece? I actually think one-piece swimsuits are so cute. And you have to try their sets. I’m a fan of the sweat shorts and oversized crew.

shopping…Frankie’s Bikinis! They have the best suites. I love their Paradise Ribbed Bikini Top and Mackenzie Ribbed Bikini Bottom. Asher and I adore all of the Frankie’s sets!

something fun…Touring Carrie Bradshaw’s ‘And Just Like That’ Season 3 Home.

everyone is talking about…the new Jurassic Park movie. From what I’ve read the new cast sounds really great! I’m not the biggest Jurassic Park watcher, but seeing it talked about so much, has piqued my interest!

everything in my cart (beauty)…a few things for summer. This Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray locks in makeup in hot/humid weather. I’ve used this Brow Pop Filling and Shaping Eyebrow Pencil from Kosas for years. It’s easy to use and creates a great full brow. Also for brows (I love a GOOD THICK brow), the Rare Beauty Eyebrow Gel keeps brows lifted and in place all day. 

I want to switch up my shampoo and conditioner. I’m thinking about Crown Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, the reviews are all 5 star for soft, airy hair while adding body. Additionally, when I’m home, I always air-dry my hair. I have this Leave-In Conditioner Hair Serum in my cart to try out for added moisture, definition, and shine for my air-dried hair! All the makeup artists use this Angelstick for a slick look! Great for holding flyaways. And lastly, I ordered this Wet Brush during Prime Days. My hair is very long, and it tends to knot easily. Time for a cut!

watching…The Waterfront on Netflix. Per my cousin Abby’s recommendations. Anyone else watching this? Thoughts?

everything in my cart (high)…right now, jewelry is top of mind and I have my eye on this Pebble Stacking Ring.

Ohhh, and I really want this Pouch Bag in Croc from Miu Miu. Cute for a travel cosmetic bag.

following…Melissa Wood Health 10 Min Everyday Arms series. I’m really excited to be working on building strength and muscle!

2. Summer Peach Recipes.

Caramel Peach Dump Cake | halfbakedharvest.comCaramel Peach Dump Cake | halfbakedharvest.com Prosciutto-Wrapped Peach Baked Brie in Pastry | halfbakedharvest.comProsciutto-Wrapped Peach Baked Brie in Pastry | halfbakedharvest.com Peach Thyme Smash | halfbakedharvest.comPeach Thyme Smash | halfbakedharvest.com Watermelon Peach Salad | halfbakedharvest.comWatermelon Peach Salad | halfbakedharvest.com
Old School Easy Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler | halfbakedharvest.comOld School Easy Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler | halfbakedharvest.com
Old School Easy Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler
Peach Burrata Crostini with Burst Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette | halfbakedharvest.comPeach Burrata Crostini with Burst Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette | halfbakedharvest.com
Peach Burrata Crostini with Burst Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
Frozen Peach Rosé Slushy | halfbakedharvest.comFrozen Peach Rosé Slushy | halfbakedharvest.com
Frozen Peach Rosé Slushy
Rosemary Peach Chicken in a White Wine Pan Sauce | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestRosemary Peach Chicken in a White Wine Pan Sauce | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest
Rosemary Peach Chicken in a White Wine Pan Sauce
Blackberry Peach Galette | halfbakedharvest.comBlackberry Peach Galette | halfbakedharvest.com
Blackberry Peach Galette
Tomato, Peach and Burrata Salad | halfbakedharvest.comTomato, Peach and Burrata Salad | halfbakedharvest.com
Tomato, Peach, and Burrata Salad
Nonnie's 5 Ingredient Peach Dump | halfbakedharvest.comNonnie's 5 Ingredient Peach Dump | halfbakedharvest.com
Nonnie’s 5 Ingredient Peach Dump
Frozen Aperol Peach Margarita | halfbakedharvest.comFrozen Aperol Peach Margarita | halfbakedharvest.com
Frozen Aperol Peach Margarita
Peaches and Cream Pretzel Pie | halfbakedharvest.com #pie #peach #summer #dessert #easyPeaches and Cream Pretzel Pie | halfbakedharvest.com #pie #peach #summer #dessert #easy
Peaches and Cream Pretzel Pie
Pesto Peach Chicken in White Wine with Burrata | halfbakedharvest.comPesto Peach Chicken in White Wine with Burrata | halfbakedharvest.com
Pesto Peach Chicken in White Wine with Burrata

3. Nordstrom Sale: favorites in home + beauty.

home

beauty

4. The Week in Photos + Cleveland!

Going home to Cleveland was truly so special. I’m so thankful we were able to make it happen—it was such a fun night, and I felt so much love from everyone who came out. Almost everyone arrived early (which was amazing!), and I walked into the sweetest, most welcoming crowd.

We kicked off the evening with a cooking demo and made the Cheesy Shallot Bread from Quick & Cozy. Since it’s summer, I added fresh cherry tomatoes for a seasonal twist! If you’re making it at home, you could easily top it with cherry tomatoes and basil, sweet corn and basil, or cilantro, zucchini—so many delicious options. Everyone really seemed to love it!

We sipped strawberry margaritas, answered questions, signed books, and took a ton of photos—it was a blast. It felt so good to be back in Cleveland, and I’m already hoping we’ll be back again soon.

Thank you all for having me and making it such a memorable night!

favorite photos from this past week and Cleveland below!

plus the last of Rhode Island 

America’s oldest tavern! 

homegrown raspberries, free for the picking

Rhode Island is beautiful!

we saw a 4th of July wedding!

Cleveland

so happy to be here!

I love a Cleveland summer sunset

summer flowers blooming at my grandparents

flowers from Williams-Sonoma! These made me smile so BIG!

5. Let’s Catch Up! A few questions.

1. What’s the yummiest thing you’ve eaten this summer?

2. What’s the yummiest thing you’ve cooked/baked this summer?

3. What are you reading or listening to? 

4. Would you rather swim in a pool or the ocean?

5. What’s something you’re thinking about, good or bad?

6. What are you most excited for right now?

6. Inspiring Me.

(mindset is everything)

Also Pinterest if my favorit social media app. If you don’t follow, you should! I am always pinning!! I find a lot of inspiration through Pinterest.

What Pinterest accounts do you follow?

7. Favorite Links I’m Loving.

Glow-Up Gimmicks That Backfire: 5 Trends Dietitians Would Never Recommend 

The 11 Most Beautiful Gardens Around the World

The 27 Most Beautiful Cities in the World 

See Inside Sofia Coppola’s Romantic Vision for a Grand Parisian Ball 

A Corner of the Catskills Shaped by Dinner Parties—and the Chefs Behind Them 

Are We Going to Burn Out on Pistachio? 

Five Tricks You Can Use to Make Yourself Feel Happier 

The Bougie Farmstands and Markets of the Hamptons, Explained 

The “Delicious” Flavor That’s Taking Over the Chip Aisle 

The Biggest Nail Color Trends of 2025 Are an Ode to the Classics 

Oura Ring vs. Ultrahuman Ring—We’re Settling the Debate

8. Nordstrom Sale – all my favorites.

jeans

shoes

bags

9. This week’s dinners + favorite weekend eats.

Simple Roasted Sungold Tomato Pasta | halfbakedharvest.comSimple Roasted Sungold Tomato Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

Monday: Simple Roasted Sungold Cherry Tomato Pasta

3 Cheese Prosciutto Peach Pizza | halfbakedharvest.com3 Cheese Prosciutto Peach Pizza | halfbakedharvest.com

Tuesday: 3 Cheese Prosciutto Peach Pizza

Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Pork Chops | halfbakedharvest.comGarlic Butter Creamed Corn Pork Chops | halfbakedharvest.com

Wednesday: Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Pork Chops

BBQ Salmon Curry with Mango Avocado Salsa | halfbakedharvest.comBBQ Salmon Curry with Mango Avocado Salsa | halfbakedharvest.com

Thursday: BBQ Salmon Curry with Mango Avocado Salsa

Simple Chicken Zucchini Alfredo Pasta | halfbakedharvest.comSimple Chicken Zucchini Alfredo Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com

Friday: Simple Chicken Zucchini Alfredo Pasta

Blueberry Lemon Thyme Smash | halfbakedharvest.comBlueberry Lemon Thyme Smash | halfbakedharvest.com

Saturday: Blueberry Lemon Thyme Smash

Easy Strawberry Spoon Cake | halfbakedharvest.comEasy Strawberry Spoon Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Sunday: Easy Strawberry Spoon Cake

Hope you enjoyed this week’s Nine Favorite Things!

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17 Types of Apples for Cooking, Baking, Lunchboxes, and More http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/17-types-of-apples-for-cooking-baking-lunchboxes-and-more/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/17-types-of-apples-for-cooking-baking-lunchboxes-and-more/#respond Fri, 04 Jul 2025 20:30:50 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/07/05/17-types-of-apples-for-cooking-baking-lunchboxes-and-more/ [ad_1]

There’s nothing quite like a sweet, tart, crisp, and juicy apple. If you include their juice, apples are the most widely available fruit in the US, nudging past oranges and bananas. Perhaps one reason we keep crunching away is the sheer variety—over 7,000 named types—offering a wide range of flavors and textures that are perfect for snacking, baking, tossing into a salad, or a multitude of other recipes (think: applesauce-braised chicken thighs).

Apples have evolved over thousands of years, with farmers cultivating varieties for shape, taste, and high production yield, as well as for their relative resistance to pests and disease. In the mid-19th century, there were about 17,000 named varieties in North America. That number has dwindled considerably, but a renewed interest in heirloom and regional varieties has boosted offerings like Northern Spy, Gravenstein, Canadian Strawberry, and Newtown Pippin. Just stumble into the right farmers market or local orchard from September through October, where you can have your pick straight from the farmer’s apple trees and cosplay that Americana dream. Meanwhile, new varieties like Cosmic Crisp and SugarBee are gaining popularity on grocery store shelves.

Below, we’ve rounded up 17 varieties that showcase the diversity of apples available in US markets right now. These profiles highlight the best ways to use each specimen, whether that’s simply eating it out of hand, baking it into Classic Apple Pie, braising it with pork pot roast, or something else entirely. But before we get into that:

How to buy and store apples

  1. Choose firm apples without blemishes
    Look for apples without any visible bruises or soft, mushy spots. They should be firm for their specific variety (i.e. a McIntosh will not be as firm as a Granny Smith). Do not store bruised or cut apples with whole ones, as this will cause the other apples to spoil faster.

  2. Keep them cold
    Apples quickly lose their crispness at room temperature, so it’s best to avoid leaving them on your counter. To store apples in the fridge, place them in a perforated plastic bag to help preserve their freshness and allow the ethylene gas they emit to be released.

    If you want to store apples for a long time, wrap each one in newspaper (avoid paper with colored ink) and then store them in a dark, cool place, such as a cellar or garage.

  3. Use lemon juice to keep your sliced apples fresh
    If you’re slicing apples and don’t want the exposed apple flesh to turn brown, dunk the slices in a bowl of 3 parts water to 1 part lemon juice. Note that some varieties like Ginger Gold, Cortland, and Pink Lady will brown more slowly, which make them good choices for a charcuterie or cheese board that will sit out at a party.

Now, make some room in your crisper drawer; it’s time to get elbow-deep in the apple bins.

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21 Recipes Our Editors Are Cooking on Father’s Day (It’s Not Just Steak!) http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/21-recipes-our-editors-are-cooking-on-fathers-day-its-not-just-steak/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/21-recipes-our-editors-are-cooking-on-fathers-day-its-not-just-steak/#respond Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:51:31 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/06/11/21-recipes-our-editors-are-cooking-on-fathers-day-its-not-just-steak/ [ad_1]

What makes a recipe a Father’s Day recipe? According to a quick internet search, it’s meat, meat, and more meat—preferably grilled. That’s fine and dandy, but some dads may want a little more variety. To find out what Serious Eats staffers are cooking up for Father’s Day, I recently polled the staff on their dad’s favorite meals. While the results were mostly meaty, there were also plenty of comforting carbs and desserts. Below, you’ll find all the dishes our staffers plan on making for their dads this Father’s Day, including tender ribs, cheesy lasagna, and a luxuriously rich New York cheesecake.

June 2023

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