You can tap into culture by exploring what's grown or produced in the region, like going into the Blue Mountains in Jamaica to visit a coffee plantation or a rum distillery in Barbados.
— Katie Lee
I've always been a big fan of ribs.
Labor Day means grilling outside!
My secret for feeding a bunch of guests without seeming stingy is pork tenderloin. It's an inexpensive cut that looks impressive and is full of flavor. Plus, guys love it.
By the end of the winter, I'm always battling too-tight pants. My solution: Eat lean protein, good grains, and veggies.
I like a good burger as much as the next girl, but sometimes, I say hold the beef. In fact, every week, I do Meatless Monday to feel a little healthier.
Holiday shopping is a challenge. Stores are crowded; people are stressed and rude... not exactly the spirit of the season.
Spritzers are festive yet economical. By adding seltzer and juice, you stretch the number of people a bottle of wine serves.
I grew up eating chicken and dumplings in my grandma's kitchen.
I think any man can be won over by being fed my Chicken with Roasted Garlic, Pancetta, and Rosemary.
If you look at the cookbooks that sell the most, it's almost always people who have their own TV shows.
A lot of people are kind of snobby about garlic powder and onion powder. I happen to love them.
My Breville juicer is one of my can't-live-without appliances in the kitchen.
I love the 'Barefoot Contessa' cookbooks - they're so nicely done, and her recipes are beautiful and simple.
I think kitchen real estate is very valuable, so something has to perform multiple functions for me to give it space in my drawers.
The kitchen is definitely the room that gets used the most in my house.
I'm asleep at midnight. I go to bed really early, so I don't have a midnight snack.
I love giving little ones fun tasks that make them feel like they're part of the team but keep them safe. My go-tos are topping pizzas, decorating cookies, stirring ingredients, and, of course, taste-testing!
I've been using carrot tops to make pesto and broccoli stalks to make broccoli 'rice.' There's no reason to throw those things away - just get creative.
The rich, hearty flavor of portobello mushroom caps are a dynamite alternative to the traditional burger.
My zero-stress way to host a gathering: Make the guests do the cooking.
I used to think of Mexican food as a once-in-a-while type of thing because it can be so heavy, but I learned how to lighten it up easily and keep it just as flavorful. That's awesome, since it's the perfect festive dinner for hanging out with friends on a relaxed night.
I love cooking except for an annoying step - cleaning up.
If summer had one defining scent, it'd definitely be the smell of barbecue.
I'll take any excuse to have a get-together. For me, it's all about the everyday occasions, whether it's popping champagne to toast good weather, inviting the girls for brunch to rehash a night out, or just making snacks and watching a movie.
My number one elixir for anxiety? Comfort food.
When you're going to meet your man's mom and dad, it's always nice to bring them something homemade and from the heart.
When cooking for a man, treat all of his senses.
For my Mai Tai recipe, I juice fresh orange, pineapple, and lime. It's like vacation in a glass!
If I really don't feel like cooking, I have a bowl of lentil pasta with Rao's jarred sauce.
I always think of my grandfather as the original foodie. He was the slowest eater. He savored everything. Even when everyone was gone from the table, he was still eating.
I like a very clean kitchen, and when I'm cooking, I try to clean as I go.
I would have loved to have been an aesthetician. I love, like, anything to do with - I know this sounds kind of gross - but any kind of zit popping is so fascinating to me.
I love spicy food, so I'm not sure why I have this aversion to wasabi, but I really detest it.
To me, nothing says summer like enjoying a lobster roll at my favorite spots in the Hamptons.
Every great sandwich starts with a great bun, and my absolute favorites are Sara Lee Artesano Bakery Buns and Rolls - they're quick, simple and work perfectly with all my favorite recipes!
During the summer, I used to hate when my mom would call me inside to eat - it was such a drag to leave all the fun.
Devising the menu for an intimate meal can be a thorny task. You want to make something your guy will go crazy for, but that usually means big and heavy. And feeling overly full kind of kills the mood.
Working on my first novel, 'Groundswell' - about a woman recovering from a bad breakup who falls in love with surfing - I spent a month south of the border. And when I wasn't writing or surfing, I was eating. A lot.
For me, the thought of spaghetti and meatballs conjures up the image of that scene where 'Lady and the Tramp' gaze into each other's eyes as they slurp a strand of pasta into a fateful kiss.
I'd rather spend my Sunday doing just about anything other than watching a football game - unless it's the Super Bowl.
There's something so intimate about a picnic with your guy.
Some guys find eating face-to-face weirdly intense. But sitting on the same side of the table allows both intermittent physical contact and eye contact.
I love to have my girlfriends over for a movie night of chick flicks. I usually make some simple snacks, and the favorite is always my Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
My grandpa and I loved Emeril. It was all he wanted to watch when he was in the hospital dying. When I met Emeril later, it was so emotional.
I make green juice daily.
I just love to look at cookbooks, it's almost like they're comic books for me. I can't look at them before bed; it gets me too excited.
My grandmother Dora taught me how to cook. She's from a small town in West Virginia called Milton. I would pull a stool up to her kitchen counter after school. My love of food started there.
I really like keeping my kitchen counters as clear as possible. I tend to function better when there's less clutter.
Bobby Flay has become a great mentor to me. He's one of my very best friends and kind of like a big brother, and I always feel like I can go to him for any kind of advice.
