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Photo: Getty Images Summer may not have officially started, but Trader Joe’s is already filling its aisles with tons of fun, fresh items that will get you in the mood to hit the pool. The store’s latest edition ofthe Fearless Flyerrounds up lots of new and returning grocery finds, including one drink I was especially excited to see. That’s right, my fellow citrus lovers: Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Limeade is back, and I’m ready to purchase a financially irresponsible number of bottles....

Photo:Getty ImagesIf I can count on one thing each December, it’s just how much flour, sugar and butter I’ll go through. I’m a pretty devoted cookie baker—I’ll make a batch for everybody and everything, whether it’s a small tin for a sweet thank you gift or a few batches for a holiday potluck.6 Healthy Finds Coming to Aldi in DecemberOutside of cookies, I’ll fly through plenty of baking essentials making fun desserts for family, a festive sweet Christmas breakfast and even fun lattes or hot chocolate recipes for a holiday movie night....

Photo:Courtesy of Brand Courtesy of Brand Humble brag: I do a lot of walking. But not necessarily for fitness (I mostly save that for the gym). We live within walking distance of my youngest daughter’s elementary school, so I walk her to and from school. I also have a 1-year-old dog who needs her fair share of exercise (read: tiring out) so we regularly walk the streets of our neighborhood....

I’ve always loved Brussels sprouts—even when I was a little kid, in the days when they were more likely to be boiled or steamed than roasted. I thought they looked like cute little mini cabbages, which is kind of what they are (both vegetables are in the healthy brassica family). But I know everyone doesn’t share my love of Brussels sprouts, and in my 20-plus years in food media, I’ve written and edited a lot of articles and recipes trying to convince people how delicious Brussels sprouts really are....

ClosePhoto:EatingWellWe had an unseasonably warm, dry September in Vermont. So even though the leaves were starting to turn, my weekly dinner plan still screamed summer. Think: hearty dinner salads, grilled marinated chicken and pasta tossed with burrata, cherry tomatoes and tons of fresh herbs.But then, just like that, everything changed. The nights have been cool enough to sleep without a fan or air conditioning. I’m wearing a sweatshirt until noon most days....

ClosePhoto: Getty ImagesThere are so many things I use raspberry jam for in my everyday life. Whether I’m spreading it on toast or using it as a jelly alternative for the ultimate PB&J, the sweet preserve is a part of my routine. And I’ve been on a Brie-and-jam kick for quite some time. Paired with some multigrain crackers, it’s been one of my favorite midday snacks since the start of the year....

Close Photo:Getty Images Getty Images My husband’s sweet tooth is undeniable. Not only does he reach for something sweet after dinner every night, but he almost always does after lunch, too. And if I’m painting the full picture here, if we have cinnamon-raisin bread or muffins around, he’ll grab that for “second breakfast.” His sweet tooth is not doing him any favors. He’s in the early stages of nonalcoholicfatty liver disease(caused when too much fat builds up in the liver), and the best thing for him to do to nip that in the bud now is to lose weight, which is hard to do in your 40s!...

Close Photo:EatingWell EatingWell My childhood memories during Christmastime were, for the most part, pretty average for an Italian American. My family devoured theFeast of the Seven Fisheson Christmas Eve, our decorations consisted of handmade ornaments and a near-ancient nativity scene and there was no doubt that Mom was baking cookies, both traditional as well as her own creations. But my mom doesn’t just bake cookies—it’s a whole event. Think of your favorite cookie, and my mom probably has a recipe for it....

Close Photo:EatingWell EatingWell When I met my husband, we were both married to other people. He was in the process of getting divorced, and I was separated, so we were both partnerless invitees to a Lunar New Year party. Our initial conversation revolved around the food and the traditions associated with the holiday I grew up celebrating. This was the first time I wasn’t getting red pocket envelopes stuffed with money (also known as lai see in Cantonese) from my family, as I had taken a job 1,000 miles north in Vermont....

Photo:Floriana / Getty ImagesGrowing up, there was always a duality to my mom’s food. For example, we always had baked goods on the countertop, but every now and then we’d find out there was tofu hidden inside the peanut butter pie. We were allowed dessert every night but were made to down acai shots in the morningswhen the superfruit was at its trendiest. While I found her methods curious as a kid, I’ve come to appreciate and even embrace her methods of moderation....

ClosePhoto:jenifoto/Getty ImagesBaking cookies brings back many memories from my childhood. My great-grandma baked oodles of cookies each year for the grand cookie platter that served as the only dessert on Christmas Day. She also filled 5-pound coffee cans with cookies to give to each family as a gift.My mom started her own cookie-baking tradition when she got married 30-plus years ago. She hit her peak when my sister, Jennie, and I were kids, baking a thousandcookiesor more each holiday season....

Photo: Courtesy of Le CreusetTo this day, my mom still raves about one gift I’d bought for a past Mother’s Day: An herb planter and seed kit. She loves to garden, and having a few easily accessible plants to keep on the deck or in the kitchen was a complete game changer for her.This year, I found some of the cutest versions that I just might have to buy for myself and for her....

Photo: Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn When it’s 107 degrees out, like it is right now in Texas, cooking over the stove is a no-go in my home. The air conditioner is working too hard already, and besides, I wantfoods that cool me down, not heat me up. Of course, one of my favorite dishes to eat all summer long is salads....