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    Heather W. at Better Homes and Gardens

    Heather W. at Better Homes and Gardens

  • The 9 commandments of dining with little kids

    Editor's note: We apologize for the patently inappropriate sections, which we have removed from the post. We support breastfeeding moms -- and all moms -- in their desire to include their children in their public lives. (Click here for our official apology.)

  • What do you get for $15,000 a plate?

    On May 13, President Obama will dine at the St. Regis in New York at a swanky, $15,000-a-plate Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser. According to GrubStreet.com, French Culinary Institute deans Alain Sailhac, André Soltner, Jacques Pépin, and legendary chocolatier Jacques Torres

  • Gorgeous wedding cakes you can make yourself

    For many brides-to-be, the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/crafts/weddings/cakes/creative-wedding-cakes" target="_blank">wedding cake</a> is one of the major stars of the show -- it's up there with the dress, the flowers, and the tear-inducing vows. But with tighter budgets, more and more industrious brides (and grooms!) are applying a DIY philosophy to their wedding cakes. The benefits of <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/crafts/weddings/cakes/wedding-cake/" target="_blank">baking-it-yourself</a> are manifold: You save money, it's personalized, you can make elements of your cake ahead of time, and perfect your methods via tasty test-runs. <br> <br> So, if wedding bells are in your future, get inspired and get baking with these clever and creative do-it-yourself wedding cake ideas from <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/" target="_blank">BHG.com</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mixingbowl.com/home/view.castle" target="_blank">MixingBowl.com</a>!

  • Best Restaurants For The Worst Internet Dates

    Recently I was at an Italian restaurant and overheard what was clearly an internet date in progress. The woman was pretty and casually attired (clearly not getting her hopes up) while the man was perhaps overly dressy and -- sad to say -- unequivocally obnoxious. He talked non-stop about being a "ha

  • 8 appetizers that need a retirement party

    Whenever there's a cocktail party in my future, I always ask my husband, "Do you think there will be food?" And he always answers, "I hope so." Not to sound like an utter freeloader, but certain obligatory occasions -- engagement parties, post-work events, openings of obscure art galleries -- go dow

  • The 7 deadly sins you may be guilty of when you dine out

    As more restaurants shift to comfort-food-centric, recession-friendly concepts, a sense of formality seems to be slipping away. Which makes perfect sense -- who needs pearl-handled oyster forks and table-side flambé when the menu features meat loaf and mac 'n' cheese? However, no matter how laid-ba

  • Our 10 favorite sides for an easy Easter

    When I was growing up, Easter Sunday meant church, brunch, and egg hunt -- in that order. One year, the Easter Bunny -- perhaps after one carrot juice too many -- hid one of his festively dyed hard-boiled eggs behind the living room drapes and promptly forgot about it. It stayed there for months, until an odd smell (and an alert housekeeper) revealed the culprit. <br> <br> After that, the family reverted to plastic eggs, but Easter brunch is still a big tradition. Here, we'll reveal how to make your Sunday spread stress-free with 10 easy and delicious Easter dinner and brunch side dishes from <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/" target="_blank">BHG.com</a>. <br> <br> For even more Easter inspiration, check out <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/" target="_blank">BHG.com</a>'s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/recipes/our-best-easter-menus/" target="_blank">Best Easter Menus</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/recipes/an-easter-brunch-that-dazzles/" target="_blank">Dazzling Easter Brunch Recipes</a>, and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/recipes/fun-to-make-easter-treats/" target="_blank">Fun and Sweet Easter Treats</a>. <br>

  • March Madness party planner: sweet and savory recipes to match your team

    In case you hadn't noticed the buzz around every water cooler (and sports bar) it's March Madness time again. In honor of the NCAA college basketball tournament and all its dramatic upsets, last-second 3-pointers, and befuddling mascots (Let's Go Gaels! Bring it, Mountaineers!), <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/">BHG.com</a> has selected a dish inspired by each Sweet Sixteen School still fighting for a spot in the Final Four. Any favorites we missed? Share with us in the comments!

  • The 8 greatest green desserts to make for St. Patrick's Day

    Wednesday, March 17 is a national celebration of all things Irish, green, lucky, and, in our case, sweet! While some of you may be cooking up hearty <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/meat/corned-beef-and-cabbage/" target="_blank">corned beef and cabbage</a>, savory <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/recipes/st-patricks-day-dinner/" target="_blank">Irish stew</a>, or quaffing the inevitable home-brewed green beer, we decided to find a happy handful of Emerald-Isle inspired sweets for your celebration. Do you have a favorite St. Patrick's Day tradition? Share with us in the comments! <br> <br> Visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes" target="_blank">BHG.com</a> for <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/recipes/fresh-ideas-for-st-patricks-day-dinner/" target="_blank">fresh ideas for St. Patrick's Day dishes,</a> a complete <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/st-patricks-day-menu/" target="_blank">Luck 'o the Irish Menu</a>, and even more <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/recipes/delicious-st-patricks-day-desserts/" target="_blank">delicious St. Patrick's Day desserts</a>. <br> <br> <br> <b><a rel="nofollow" href="https://subscribe.yahoo.com/subscribe?.optin=shf&.src=shf&.done=https://subscribe.yahoo.com/showaccount" target="_blank">And sign up now!</a>: Be part of Yahoo! Shine's <a rel="nofollow" href="https://subscribe.yahoo.com/subscribe?.optin=shf&.src=shf&.done=https://subscribe.yahoo.com/showaccount" target="_blank">What's for Dinner newsletter</a> to get quick new dinner ideas, easy desserts, soups, sips, and more.</b>

  • 10 appetizers we'd totally serve to George Clooney or Meryl Streep

    With 10 Best Picture nominees, this year's Academy Awards ceremony is going to be long - a marathon of stars, speeches, and stylist misfires. Whether you relish every montage and weepy podium moment or spend the 3 + hours mentally counting down the days 'til baseball season, any Oscar viewing experi

  • The good eater's guide to mooching (pancakes, cookies, candy, and more!)

    There's no such things as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free sample! While we at BHG.com would never advocate abusing the privilege of seasonal promotions, special offers, and free goodies, if the opportunity arises to benefit from corporate goodwill, why not enjoy it? Here are some o

  • The famous last meals of MJ, Julia Child, JFK, and 8 others

    Ancient Greeks allowed condemned men to enjoy multi-course feasts, providing them with sustenance -- and liquid courage -- for their trip to the afterlife. The ritual of the last meal persisted in some form or another throughout medieval Europe, eventually infiltrating western culture -- today, most

  • Guess how much the world's most extravagant olive oil costs?

    A good friend of mine lives in Los Angeles, and recently she was asked out by an attractive gentleman she met at her local dog park. He said that he would love to take her out that coming Saturday for a...olive oil tasting. The date never happened -- for a variety of reasons -- but it occurred to me

  • 7 ways to tell you're in the wrong restaurant for your date

    Finding the perfect restaurant in which to woo a fledgling sweetheart isn't easy - and choosing one on Valentine's Day can throw even the most romantically savvy off their game. It's a fine line between upscale and stuffy, inventive and intimidating, casual and just plain cheap. Just in time for V-D

  • 9 fast & fun finger foods for game day

    The Super <i>Bowl</i> is aptly named <span>--</span> for many of us, this day is really all about food. Whether you're an unabashed epicure who serves up handmade foie gras tartlets or a laid-back host who considers opening a can of salsa an adequate entertaining effort, any Super Bowl party is better with tasty finger foods. To help inspire your Sunday afternoon culinary efforts, we've compiled the most delicious <span>--</span> and quick <span>--</span> football-watching favorites from <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/entertaining/superbowl/" target="_blank">BHG</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes" target="_blank"><span><span>.com</span></span></a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mixingbowl.com/group/usergroup/view.castle?g=664545" target="_blank">MixingBowl.com</a> just in time for kickoff! <br> <br> For even more tasty ideas, check out our <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/entertaining/appetizers/easy-party-foods/" target="_blank">Quick & Easy Party Foods</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/entertaining/appetizers/warm-cheese-appetizer-recipes/" target="_blank">Warm & Cheesy Appetizers</a> collections, or share your own greatest hits in our <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mixingbowl.com/group/TopSuperBowlSnacks" target="_blank">Top Super Bowl Snacks</a> group.

  • 4 super-fast super bowl dips (in 10 minutes or less!)

    In the great pantheon of Super Bowl Sunday snacks, dip is up there next to chicken wings and pigs-in-a-blanket. Dip is easy to prepare and share, you needn't bother with utensils, and, what's more, the crunchiness off fresh veggies, crackers, and chips helps work out everyone's aggression. Whether y

  • How restaurants manipulate you into spending more

    When I was 13, my dad took my sister and I out to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe -- the height of coolness for pre-teens in the late '80s. I ordered a virgin Strawberry Daiquiri, and the (cute) waiter asked if I'd like to make it a "double" for just three dollars more. I said yes. My dad shook his hea

  • Top fantasy buffets: What's your all-you-can-eat dream?

    Ah, the bottomless brunch buffet. Rows of crab legs, gleaming ice sculptures, prime rib carving stations, unlimited bubbly -- where else can you find such sheer decadence? In the spirit of splurging, we've sought out some of the world's most extravagant brunch buffets for your vicarious enjoyment. T

  • How not to feel humiliated when dining alone

    If you're single, travel for business, or just enjoy savoring a meal without small talk, you've probably had the experience of dining alone. This can be immensely pleasurable or incredibly daunting, depending on your temperament and overall approach. To ensure your next table-for-one adventure is as

  • 8 foods that make you feel good - fast!

    Some people are naturally cheerful and content, while others need a little help upping their happiness quotient, especially in the back-to-the-grind post-holiday months. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes">BHG.com</a> spoke with Marissa Lippert, a registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and author of the forthcoming book <i>The Cheater's Diet</i> <span>to get the lowdown on 8 healthy foods that can give you an instant mood lift. We've also included <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/healthy-eating/">fresh and healthy recipes</a> from BHG.com that you can whip up for a happiness boost at home. Did we miss any of your favorite feel-good foods? Dish with us! <br></span>