5 ways to save money on groceries using your Instant Pot
Everyone knows that the Instant Pot is a time saver. But, since getting in the habit of using mine beyond making quick dinners, I've come to learn that the popular kitchen gadget is also a money saver. Like, big time. These are my favorite ways to save money on...
Don’t throw it out! We found 11 smart ways to use expired baking soda around the house.
If you're anything like me, you buy a big box of baking soda when it's on sale and end up having lots leftover after it has expired. But even though it may not be fresh enough to bake with anymore, your money isn't all wasted. I found 11 smart ways to use expired...
How to cook pasta perfectly, even ahead of time
This is how I was taught to cook pasta perfectly, even ahead of time which, by the way, is lifesaving knowledge for any busy family cook. We typically eat pasta at least once a week, and thanks to this pasta-cooking trick, it's cooked to perfection every single time....
How to cook steak perfectly: 5 of the best steak recipes to make dinner sizzle
Unless you're vegetarian, it’s hard to resist a big, juicy steak every once and a while. I’m not a huge meat eater myself—I only eat red meat several times a month—so when I do, I want it to be good. Really good. A tender steak with a crispy, flavorful exterior always...
7 fall pasta salad recipes, because no one really wants this summer trend to end
During the lazy, hot days of summer, no one really wants to stand over a stove and that is why pasta salads are so brilliant. But let's be honest, once the fall routine starts up, there is not a lot of time or desire to be standing over a stove either. What makes a...
How to make perfect pesto every single time
Learning how to make perfect pesto will definitely save you money over store-bought brands, plus you avoid all the extra preservatives that you don't need. This is one of those cases where making your own fresh really is better than anything you can buy. As in, you'll...
How to make whipped cream. And some not-so-basic, but totally easy upgrades.
You don't need to wait for a holiday or special occasion to make whipped cream. Whipped cream is just that happy little thing that makes everything better - from your morning coffee to topping fruit for an after-school snack, to dressing up your hot chocolate...
5 creative ways to make family dinner work for your family. No judgment (or guilt) here!
By now, you have probably heard many times over about the importance of family dinner. And because of the pandemic lockdown, you may laugh to yourself and think, "we have had enough family dinners to last a lifetime." But as things are returning to "normal," family...
7 globally-inspired burger recipes that level up your burger game
By the time Labor Day rolls around, many of us are ready to stay close to home and reset. But this doesn't mean we are ready to pack up the grill! So rather than just throwing the same old burgers on the grill, we have been scouring our favorite food bloggers and...
4 simple meal plan approaches that might just make you try meal planning, finally.
It's back to school at my house, which means back to meal planning, but with grocery prices rising, I've been thinking about taking a different approach to "find something that looks good and just make it." I honestly can't afford to spend money on a meal that my kids...
Helpful tips to get your kids packing their own lunches at any age
If you're looking to lighten your load this school year, look to the kids. With these tips, you'll have your kids making lunch in no time at all! I'm not a morning person. If your personality also improves throughout the day, you'll understand why my life's goal as a...
5 DIY Lunchables ideas that look (and taste) just like the store bought ones | Back to School Guide
The convenience of Lunchables is undeniably alluring, but the ingredients, cost, and waste can be a little hard to swallow given how incredibly easy it is to make DIY Lunchables. With a handful of ingredients and a few reusable compartmentalized lunch containers...
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Our kitchen spring cleaning checklist: 7 easy tasks you won’t want to forget.
With spring having sprung (and the words of Marie Kondo echoing in my head all these years later), I've been doing my best to kick-start spring cleaning before summer arrives. But one thing I've learned after all these years, is it's so easy to miss certain tasks...
New year, new kitchen: 7 steps to a clean, better organized one for the New Year
When January 2nd rolls around, my kitchen is a mess. The fridge is stuffed full of random leftovers, and the pantry is overflowing with half-full boxes of crackers, cereal and snacks left behind from having all of the kids home 24/7 for almost a month. As daunting...
Whether you DIY or buy, we have 10 easy ideas for a beautiful Thanksgiving table. . . no crafting skills required.
This Thanksgiving, I'm ditching the "aspirational" Instagram feeds with their super-creative (and mind-boggling) table decor ideas that require either a big investment of money or time to achieve. Instead, I've decided to simplify beautifully with these easy...
How to tell if food is fresh: Awesome kitchen tricks
Have you ever opened a jar of half-used tomato sauce only to find furry white spots of mold floating on top? While some spoiled food is quite obvious—all you need do is open the container and take a whiff—others are less so. Especially pantry staples that you tend...
5 easy ways to drink more water, because we all need it
I'm not sure why it's so hard to drink our daily recommended amount of water, but it just is. I'm trying to do better this year and know that others at Cool Mom HQ are too, so I've found a few ways to make it a little easier. Because even when it's freezing cold...
Recipes
Weekly meal plan: 5 easy meals for the week ahead, including great Memorial Day cookout recipes
A new batch of weekly meal plan recommendations is here, and it's Memorial Day at end of this week! So we've found a tasty recipes perfect for your upcoming weekend cookouts, plus easy meals to get you through the rest of the week. So grab a pen, make your shopping...
The best authentic Mexican food blogs: 6 favorites for Cinco de Mayo and every other day of the year.
I've had the best time seeking out the best Mexican food blogs serving up authentic Mexican cuisine in honor of Cinco de Mayo. I've always loved this holiday; in my hometown of New York City, May 5th marks a point in early spring when we're absolutely sure there's...
5 easy meals for a busy week on the go
Alright, parents: I have a busy week coming up, so I need to think ahead and come up with some meal plan ideas for quick meals that will keep my family satisfied and nourished for some of these longer nights we have ahead of us (yay spring sports). I'm also looking...
5 great family dinners from 5 favorite cookbook authors
I'm not really sure how it is that we are heading into the last week in April, but here we are! It seems like every week I am trying to rekindle my passion for cooking, and one way to do that is to revisit or seek out a few new recipes from cookbooks from some of...
Beat it, eggs! 6 fantastic egg-free brunch ideas for Easter and beyond.
Eggs get all the attention at brunch, especially Easter brunch. They’re an easy choice for many hosts and families, but you may be serving guests – vegans, picky kids, or those with allergies – who don't eat eggs. Besides, eggs can be temperamental, and serving...
