While I can thank my Dad for his culinary expertise and teaching skills (that I posted about last time), I increasingly realize with each cross-country visit from my Mom that my love for cake came from her.

I have to point out that both Mom and Dad -- with their intense appreciation for food -- never let that undermine their need to be physically fit and ultra stylish. To their four kids (and our spouses, kids, and assorted friends),… Read More

My Dad's in town... which typically turns the Practical Whimsy test kitchen into a lunatical (but extra-thriving) locale.

Dad's the one who signed all us boys up for "Bon Appetit" subscriptions at age 12. We pretty much learned how to cook from him. (For some reason, almost exclusively men cooked on both sides of my Cuban and Italian ancestry). So, when Dad visits, culinary odysseys are de rigeur.

I've been wanting to nail a decent recipe for fresh,… Read More

Today I'm thankful about reveling in the joys of kid-dom on Easter.

I know all parents agree that holidays taken on an entire new level of resonance when you have kids. And this Easter I focused on -- in all the festivities -- making sure the kids got a kick out of what they were doing in our preparations... and didn't let them (or me) worry about how the creations looked. Our only mission: how much fun they could… Read More

My daughter ChiChi just got the A-OK that she can have nuts. On our pediatrician's advice, we didn't include nuts of any kind in her diet until she turned 2. So, for her first two years of life, she'd look on longingly as older brother Rocco indulged in trail mix with almonds, fudge brownies with walnuts, and -- of course -- peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Now that the whole family can have nuts, I've been reminded how peanut… Read More

Come Easter time, I'm always looking for the kind of basket that you won't find anywhere... which means I have to make it.

This year, I found a roll of Easter-themed wrapping paper -- dotted with bunnies, lambs, baby chicks, and houses -- at Tuesday Morning (for $1.29), then looked through our cupboards, closets, and (I'm embarrassed to admit) our soon-to-be-discarded mail, and located perfect shapes for homemade baskets.

For Rocco's, I had just received a package in… Read More

I'm obsessed... again.

I'm pretty open about the fact that I like to make as many foods as possible from scratch, but when it comes to Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors, I'm a fool for whatever they're offering. A new flavor on the block, "Cinnamon Buns" ice cream, also known as -- according to the packaging -- "caramel ice cream with cinnamon bun dough and a caramel streusel swirl," is just ridiculously delicious.

While you can scoop… Read More