Erin Alexander – FoodWatcher

Martha Stewart’s Mac & Cheese Recipe Is the Only One You’ll Ever Need

Macaroni and cheese has been my favorite food from the very beginning. My journey, like so many, began with neon-orange Easy Mac and led to the exploration of many variations both at home and in restaurants—from Outback Steakhouse's absurdly creamy mac with penne (which I thoroughly enjoyed in my elementary school days) to many a truffled mac and cheese ordered during various steakhouse experiences over the years (very hit or miss).

Nowadays, I'm much more likely to cook my own mac and cheese at home than order one off a restaurant menu. And of all the recipes I've tested over the years, one stands above the rest for its timelessness and pitch-perfect combination of flavors and textures: Martha Stewart's.

12 Neighborhood Coffee Shops We’ll Always Come Back To

I’ve come a long way on my coffee journey since my Starbucks days. I would frequent the local drive-thru each morning like clockwork, unready to start the day until I had an iced latte with two shots of vanilla in my cup holder. Also a must: their saus…

I've come a long way on my coffee journey since my Starbucks days. I would frequent the local drive-thru each morning like clockwork, unready to start the day until I had an iced latte with two shots of vanilla in my cup holder. Also a must: their sausage, cheddar, and egg sandwich that was always so unbelievably hot, it'd burn my mouth no matter how patient I was.

Over the years, my taste in coffee has evolved—though I'll still lean on Starbucks when I'm in need of caffeine and it's the best available option. I even invested in a home espresso machine recently that has quickly become one of my most-prized, and most-used, kitchen possessions (it's a slightly more compact version of this one). While I love the luxury of sipping a freshly brewed cappuccino in my pajamas each morning while Good Morning America buzzes in the background, there's something extra special about discovering a neighborhood spot that not only serves up an excellent cup of coffee, but also has the type of atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile.

13 Essential Cooking Tips We Learned From Our Moms

Being an only child, my mom has always been much more than just a mom to me. She’s also my best friend. Sure, there were plenty of times when—as a parent—she dropped the iron hammer, but we’ve always had a closeness that was more like friendship.

Grow…

Being an only child, my mom has always been much more than just a mom to me. She's also my best friend. Sure, there were plenty of times when—as a parent—she dropped the iron hammer, but we've always had a closeness that was more like friendship.

Growing up she obviously taught me a lot of very important things: work hard, make good choices, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. But when it comes to cooking, the most important thing she instilled in me was small: Keep an organized work station, and clean up as you go.

The Genius Olive Oil Cake That’s Never Let Me Down

I’ll be the first to admit that I do not enjoy baking. My short attention span can’t handle the precision it so often demands, plus I find all-purpose flour (and the ease with which it coats every surface in my kitchen) endlessly annoying. For that rea…

I’ll be the first to admit that I do not enjoy baking. My short attention span can't handle the precision it so often demands, plus I find all-purpose flour (and the ease with which it coats every surface in my kitchen) endlessly annoying. For that reason, you'll rarely find me pulling out my mixing bowl set from the back of the cupboard to whip up a batch of cupcakes or cookies, or (shudder) something more complicated like croissants or macarons—I'll leave that to the professionals.

There is, however, one very notable exception to my bad baking attitude: Maialino's Olive Oil Cake.

We Got a First Taste of the New Hidden Valley Ranch x Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Flavor

In addition to perfecting classic scoops, the purveyors of fine ice creams over at Van Leeuwen have mastered the art of dreaming up odd and unexpected flavors over the years. You might recall the commotion around their Kraft Mac & Cheese-inspired release (which Eater staff writer Amy McCarthy found "nothing short of magical") or their limited-edition Grey Poupon flavor, complete with a honey-Dijon swirl and salted pretzels.

Keeping with the tradition of transforming savory foods and condiments into ice cream (don't ask us how they do it), today Van Leeuwen announced their latest collaboration: Hidden Valley Ranch. Yep, that's right, ranch-flavored ice cream is headed to a Walmart freezer section near you starting on March 20. Ahead of the launch, the Van Leeuwen team sent a pint to the Food52 office for a sneak-peek taste (more on the results in a moment).

9 Valentine’s Day Cocktails We Simply Adore

No matter what your plans are for Valentine’s Day this year, pouring a drink or two might be on the menu for the evening. Popping open some bubbles or a bottle of wine is always a safe bet, but if you’re looking to shake up something a little extra-spe…

No matter what your plans are for Valentine's Day this year, pouring a drink or two might be on the menu for the evening. Popping open some bubbles or a bottle of wine is always a safe bet, but if you're looking to shake up something a little extra-special, consider a cocktail.

From festive martinis to berry-hued sips that nod to the holiday's signature shade—here are 9 of our favorite Valentine's Day cocktails, including a few non-alcoholic options, that look and taste impressive.