Hey folks–here we are, at the start of December and I know you probably feel like I do–as though someone has hit the fast forward button on life. There’s just too much to do! On top of your regular full plate, there are more social obligations, school functions and all that gift buying to do. I’m here to help you with at least one of them–the gifting.

As summer comes to a close, my kids are super excited about heading back to school. It’s a time to reconnect with friends, explore their new classrooms and of course, show off some fun new gear.

Hi Friends–I hope you’ve been having an amazing summer! It’s been hot and humid here in New York City and I’ve been doing everything I can to not use the stove or oven.

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you all have wonderful celebrations planned with family and friends, or a relaxing day at the beach. That’s where we’re headed. When we come home, I know we’ll want to cool off with one of these vegan tri-color pops. Make a batch this morning and they’ll be ready this afternoon. Your kids can help by adding ingredients and turning on the blender–with supervision. Enjoy!

Happy almost summer everyone! The weather has been gorgeous here in Brooklyn, NY, and that means we’ve been outside grilling, playing and taking advantage of these fleeting, perfect days. Another thing that’s here and gone in a minute is rhubarb. These super tart stalks are actually a vegetable, but we usually don’t think of them as that since we’re always pairing it with sweet fruit.

I am a huge fan of farro, aka emmer. Have you tried it yet? It’s kind of like barley, but the grain is bigger and has a nuttier flavor. Similar to barley, farro is a whole grain with a chewy texture and can be used in both savory and sweet recipes. Farro is an ancient variety of wheat that is still used throughout Italy and has been showing up on more menus in the US recently.

I’ve been wanting to make homemade cheddar crackers. You know, the kind your kids are addicted to. And I also wanted to make a treat to enjoy while watching the last episodes of one of our favorite shows, Parks and Recreation. So on a whim, I combined the two and made some Lil Sebastian Cheddar Ponies!

Ahh…the holidays. It is a wonderful time of year, but it’s also an over scheduled, hectic, and often stress-inducing time. And guess what, even with all the extra social commitments, volunteering and gift procurement, you’re still expected to put a healthy meal on the table for your family! It’s not necessarily fair, but it’s life. Since I’d like to make your life just a little bit easier, here are my rules for a healthy modern family meal:

If weeknights at your house are anything like mine, it’s always a mad dash to get something (preferably healthy) on the dinner table in time. That’s why I’m a big fan of recipes that can be made in stages. For example, you can make part of the recipe in the morning, and then finish it in 20 minutes when you get home from work. This recipe from my new cookbook Eating in Color is a perfect example. I roast the vegetables in the early afternoon, put them in the fridge, and then just toss them with the hot pasta just before serving.