A realistic 2-3 week Thanksgiving planning calendar for busy parents. Like uh, we can’t all start in October.
One look at the Thanksgiving planning calendars, and it brings up a whole lot of stress. I was supposed to order a turkey *when*? Whether Thanksgiving falls late on the calendar, or early like this year, it doesn't matter -- it's still never enough time for me to...
Is it realistic to go vegan with kids? One mom’s real life tips and tricks.
On World Vegan Day, it seems a good time to share my personal tips and tricks for learning to go vegan at home. Especially with more of us becoming aware of the benefits of a vegan (or at least more vegan) diet, for both our bodies and our planet. For background: A...
21 of the best food Advent calendars of 2023: Counting down with chocolate, coffee, wine, and a few delicious surprises
It's nice to have a celebration to look forward right now, and 2023 Advent calendars--especially food Advent calendars--are such a joyful way to count down to Christmas with the kids. (Or, just for the adults!) However, if you want to get your hands on one of the...
7 spectacular Halloween dinner theme ideas for a fun night at home
A few years back, when we were looking for trick-or-treating alternatives, one of Liz's suggestions was to host a fun Halloween themed dinner with the kids. Even though we're out and about again for Halloween, a themed Halloween dinner is still a great idea --...
How to host a pumpkin carving party for kids: 5 tips to keep it fun and low-stress.
As the kids get restless for Halloween, we're thinking about pulling together an impromptu pumpkin carving party to hold them over. It's the perfect way to kick off fall and get excited about the upcoming holidays. Even better, it's a low-key, easy kind of party to...
5 fabulous fall comfort food meals to work into your weekly meal plan
The weather is getting chillier (somewhat) where I live and it's dark at 6:30pm, so it's not surprise that warm, comfort food dinners are all I have on my mind. (Well that, and starting to think through all the fun Halloween treats to whip up this month). So this week...
A comprehensive guide to the very best coffee makers for the best coffee at home, and how to use them.
It can be hard to figure out the best coffee makers that will work for your home, your preferences, your lifestyle, and dare we say your counter space? With so many brands let alone types of coffee makers out there, shopping for the best coffee maker can be...
8 suuuuper easy, healthy Halloween treats that won’t take you all day to make.
To be clear, we’re sharing some fun and healthy Halloween treats with you, but remain firmly on #teamcandy. One big old sugar feast this time of year is a blast -- especially if your kids are willing to donate a portion of their Halloween candy or otherwise part with...
Easy dinner ideas to help transition into fall | Weekly Meal Plan Ideas
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and one of my favorite times to meal plan for my family with seasonal recipes. I love the chill in the air (it's coming!), the color of the leaves, and the change in the menu (and I'm not talking about pumpkin spice). It's...
The best insulated lunch bags for kids of all ages: 7 editor’s picks | Back to School Guide
Having now gone through more than a decade figuring out the best lunch bags for kids, I've determined that insulated lunch bags are the way to go. Let's just say we've come a long way from the metal lunch boxes some of us used to carry, featuring the cast of Full...
9 creative, non-sandwich school lunch ideas to keep things fun. (No soups or salads!) | Back to School Guide
A list of creative non-sandwich school lunch ideas is always an addition to our annual Back-to-School Lunch Guide on Cool Mom Eats. Hey, if there's one thing we've learned from being parents (and listening to all of you for years!) it's that we're desperate for...
How to support World Central Kitchen’s lifesaving work in Morocco and around the globe
I always say our readers have the biggest hearts. And so many of us are wondering which are the best humanitarian aid organizations to support in the wake of tragic events around the world, like the Maui wildfires, the ongoing war against Ukraine, and just this week,...
Our favorite tips, tricks, and kitchen hacks
What we’re making with all that fresh August produce: Beans, carrots, peppers, corn, tomatoes and more
I'm so excited for all these recipe ideas to help you figure out what to make with fresh August produce, because it is just so outstanding. Many of us on the Cool Mom Eats team made the leap to CSA memberships when Covid limited our access to local farmer’s...
The best way to cut corn off the cob without mess: Best trick ever!
August is corn on the cob season, and while I love corn on the cob, sometimes you need a good way to cut corn off the cob. I mean, other than slathering corn with butter, keeping it on the cob is kind of limiting -- especially when fresh corn is in season and I...
How to grill pizza: My family’s summer obsession.
When my omniscient editor asked me to write a post on how to grill pizza, I literally yelled, YESSSSS! In my short career of grilling pizzas, I have become obsessed. I honestly can't believe how satisfying and easy it is to make homemade grilled pizzas. And keep...
Up your burger game with the best grills and 5 grilling tools I can’t live without.
It's almost officially summer, and that means we've got grilling on the brain! Hopefully, your grill is all cleaned up and ready to go -- or on its way. Which means this is a good time to take inventory of what needs replacing, or what you might want to help up...
Non-toxic spring cleaning with salt: 8 unexpected uses in the kitchen beyond cooking.
Springtime means spring cleaning in my house and that means cleaning with salt. Yes, really. While there are some great natural cleaning products out there that are worth every dime (we love Better Life around here, and even housecleaning services use it), the...
Latest Recipes
7 delicious caramel apple flavored recipes for fall, because pumpkin spice isn’t the only taste of the season.
A lot of people see fall as the time for all things pumpkin spice, but I'm staunchly on Team Caramel Apple. It just feels like fall to me. I made my first apple crisp of the season this weekend -- so fantastic. Now I'm inspired to find more ways to pair sweet,...
5 comfort food dinner ideas for a tough week: Recipes designed to soothe
We first published this post at a time the world was hurting so many hearts -- the pandemic, politics, wildfires -- and here we are again, the same time of year, turning to food for a bit of "normal.” I am planning to start baking homemade bread again (these yeast...
These 7 delicious Rosh Hashanah apple recipes give us hope for a sweeter new year.
Happy 5785! Rosh Hashanah begins the night of Wednesday, October 2 this year so you still have a little time to gather your Rosh Hashanah apple recipe ideas together. For my kids, the best part of a Rosh Hashanah celebration is always the apples dipped in honey,...
September meal planning: What to make for dinner with September’s fresh produce
Do you remember? All of the produce in September? (My apologies both to you, reader, and to Earth, Wind and Fire, but I pretty much sing everything to the tune of "September" this entire month). September is one of the greatest months for produce IMO. The markets...
5 delicious $10 meals for summer that can feed a family of 4 | Meal Plan Ideas
This week's weekly meal plan recommendations are here, and I'm thinking about $10 meals for summer. While fruit, vegetable, and dairy prices have finally come down -- and can we get rid of shrinkflation and price gouging please, food companies? -- I'd rather spend...
