By the time you watch "Gossip Girl" on DVR, this soup is done.

Does the world really need one more food magazine? I didn’t think so until I recently got my hands on the latest Food Network magazine. I hadn’t even really thumbed through a copy until now and quickly realized that I shouldn’t have been such a Negative Nelly.

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The perfect slice of pizza still eludes me. I got very close on a recent trip to New York when I dined at Co., a small pizza joint owned by a former bread baker. The topping combos border on genius – saucy stracciatella cheese with arugula and crushed tomatoes or a white cheese-béchamel-bacon combo straight out of my dreams. But at Co., I did struggle with the crust, which has a chewy, bread-like texture. Ending the evening with fear of lock-jaw isn’t exactly what I had in mind.

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Drunken brats get the party started.

There is something about huddling around a portable grill in a crowded parking lot on a Saturday morning that just screams fall. Crisp weather, exuberant fans and beer at ten in the morning — just completes the picture.  This past Saturday, our home team played Louisiana State University and although the action on the field wasn’t stellar (we lost), the spread at our tailgate certainly was.

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By the end of August, I get a little tired of the same old burgers and dogs coming off the grill. But I’m not giving up on summer yet. I’ve found the perfect antidote to my char-grilled boredom: homemade fried chicken. Why I love it: much like pizza, it is equally outstanding hot or cold, no utensils are required and it’s simply fun to eat. Yes, the hands do get a bit greasy, but then a post-meal run through the sprinkler doesn’t seem so crazy. I’ve also found…

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Hole-y moly, these are good.

On our way back from a recent trip, we stopped at Joe’s Donut Shop in a little town in Oregon. We arrived at 5:02pm to a locked door, and sadly realized they closed at 5pm. My love of fried dough runs deep, so without hesitation, I banged on the door until they let me in to buy a dozen of whatever they had left.

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A hero for your hero.

When my hubby knows he’s in the dog house, he also knows exactly where he’s heading: the local flower shop, where we have an account (because admittedly, those flowers have graced our dining room table many a time). But what’s this gal to do when I’m the one who’s made a mistake and needs forgiveness? I’ve learned the hard way ladies. In fact, I tried buying him a bouquet years ago for a promotion – a celebratory occasion at that — and got that “huh, thanks, I guess?” response.

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A trio of white jeans bid adieu to summer.

My girlfriends and I are milking this last bit of summer for all that it’s worth. There are a few more days until Labor Day, so it’s still legal to wear white. What does that mean? A white jeans party, of course. Even though we consider ourselves modern gals, not mired down by old-fashioned etiquette, it was a fun excuse to get together and celebrate our favorite summer pants. What to eat and drink?

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Spark salad envy with this portable, Asian dish.

There are a few more BBQ’s and potlucks on my summer schedule, and blissfully, I’m hosting none of them! All I have to do is grab my latest sundress, a bottle of vino and the perfect portable salad to share. Even if I’m not in charge of the main event, I still want my side dish to shine (I like being an attention stealer). Just in time, I found…

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Root Beer Float Recipe from RecipeZaar.com

These days, I tend to prefer my beer leaded rather than sweet and from an A&W can like I enjoyed as a kid. But add ice cream to the equation, and suddenly I warm up to the idea. Recently I went to my aunt’s house for dinner. When I say aunt, I don’t mean one who loves doilies and going to the ballet — this aunt is hip, hilarious, and most importantly, an excellent cook.

We had another amazing meal of seasonal and inspired dishes and then it came time for dessert:

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Middle Management: Tips for jazzing up ice cream for yummier sandwiches.

To say an ice cream sandwich is more than the sum of its parts is an understatement. Ever have a bowl of ice cream with cookies? It’s just that. But take those two cookies and sandwich them around the ice cream and you’ve got a dessert that is at once whimsical and over-the-top delicious. Plus, it’s much more fun to eat.

I like to use homemade cookies because a chewy cookie just works better for texture – you want to be able chomp and make teeth marks in your sandwich, not take a bite and have it crumble before you. Any old ice cream will work, but you can take the entire thing to the next level by rolling it in sprinkles, mini chocolate chips or nuts. Freeze the sandwiches on a cookie sheet until firm and serve whenever the time is right – about when you’re ready to hear cheers from a crowd.

Got a fun summertime dessert that can top these?