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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Why doesn't anyone pass out candied bacon for Trick or Treat?

…oh, you weren’t talking about bacon? Well, then it’s time to change the subject. Sometimes, when I think of bacon, I think of  Alex Guarnaschelli. (Take note of me calling her Alex, instead of Alexandra as if I am one of her very best friends.)  It’s all because of her Candied Bacon recipe – so yummy. Obviously, other TV chefs have done masterful things with bacon, but somehow when Alex (check me again) prepares bacon — or anything — it’s as if she’s giving you the confidence and the okay to indulge.

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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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Dress up your mac n' cheese and take it to dinner.

I’ve been wondering where to put my bacon since outdoor burger season ended a few weeks ago. Misplaced bacon can be a truly unfortunate thing. The other day on an especially cold and damp day I was scanning the comfort food index on FoodNetwork.com and came across this happy marriage: Dressed-Up Bacon Mac and Cheese from Food Network Magazine. If this isn’t a solution, I don’t know what is. I liked this recipe instantly, mostly because…

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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 Perfect Pesto from HealthyEats.com.

The perfect pesto is fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and a hearty dose of Parmesan cheese, right? Not necessarily. If you’re a home gardener (I wish!) or a farmers’ market regular (definitely!), snatch up a bunch of kale to try this unusual summer pesto, which we dollop on a crusty bread slices and top with fresh tomatoes.

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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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Shh, we drink these all year long.

Does this sound familiar? Eleven months of the year you’re all about red wine. Then summer hits, you crank up the fans and suddenly you can’t quite swallow those bold, heavy flavors. Thankfully Bacchus, our lovely god of vino, has given us lighter, crisper white wines to help with that.

Of course, all year is keep-it-cheap season for me, which is why I loved editing this list…

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