If summer had one defining scent, it'd definitely be the smell of barbecue.
Katie Lee
When I look back on my childhood, my fondest memories are those surrounding the dinner table.
I think it's fun to serve comfort food because it's an instant ice-breaker. If somebody's expecting fancy food, and you whip out some fried chicken, they feel like, you know, they can put their elbows on the table, and the etiquette police aren't going to come out.
Betrayal is one of my biggest fears. Betrayal happens on many different levels all the time, and there is no worse feeling than realizing someone you thought you could trust has gone against you.
Cauliflower is a great swap in so many comfort food dishes.
My number one elixir for anxiety? Comfort food.
My dining and entertainment philosophy - I can boil it down to 'the three C's - I like my food like my fashion: casual, classic, and with a touch of couture.
For breakfast, a grain bowl is healthy but hearty.
Ground turkey is fantastic in a comforting classic - meatloaf.
I love comfort food - it's the basis of everything.
I'll take any excuse to have a get-together. For me, it's all about the everyday occasions, whether it's popping champagne to toast good weather, inviting the girls for brunch to rehash a night out, or just making snacks and watching a movie.
I think friendships, true friendships, morph as our lives change into what we need them to be. I am very lucky to have some really great friends, who have been there for me during my ups and downs.
I'm a big coffee drinker, and I like the ritual of using a French press - plus it makes great coffee.
You can tap into culture by exploring what's grown or produced in the region, like going into the Blue Mountains in Jamaica to visit a coffee plantation or a rum distillery in Barbados.
My secret for feeding a bunch of guests without seeming stingy is pork tenderloin. It's an inexpensive cut that looks impressive and is full of flavor. Plus, guys love it.
I grew up in a small town in West Virginia, and most of my family lived in our neighborhood or very close by. I had my grandparents down the street, my great-grandmother next door, and my great-aunt and great-uncle one door down.
I grew up eating chicken and dumplings in my grandma's kitchen.
Some guys find eating face-to-face weirdly intense. But sitting on the same side of the table allows both intermittent physical contact and eye contact.
I love to have my girlfriends over for a movie night of chick flicks. I usually make some simple snacks, and the favorite is always my Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
The rich, hearty flavor of portobello mushroom caps are a dynamite alternative to the traditional burger.
Holiday shopping is a challenge. Stores are crowded; people are stressed and rude... not exactly the spirit of the season.
I don't put myself out there - I'm really a homebody.
There's something so intimate about a picnic with your guy.
I've always been a big fan of ribs.
I grew up cooking. I was always in my grandma's cooking, and I never thought of it as a career.
I once had a 'best friend' share private stories that I had told her in confidence to another mutual friend. I think the worst part, aside from the actual betrayal of trust, is that this experience affected my future relationships, as I was hesitant to be as open with my other friends.
For me, the thought of spaghetti and meatballs conjures up the image of that scene where 'Lady and the Tramp' gaze into each other's eyes as they slurp a strand of pasta into a fateful kiss.
I used to think of Mexican food as a once-in-a-while type of thing because it can be so heavy, but I learned how to lighten it up easily and keep it just as flavorful. That's awesome, since it's the perfect festive dinner for hanging out with friends on a relaxed night.
Devising the menu for an intimate meal can be a thorny task. You want to make something your guy will go crazy for, but that usually means big and heavy. And feeling overly full kind of kills the mood.
I do shop on eBay. I love to buy china on eBay. I've bought quite a few sets of plates. I like to buy gifts as well. If I know somebody has a favorite writer, I look for a first edition. It's also a great place to buy vintage jewelry.
I'd rather spend my Sunday doing just about anything other than watching a football game - unless it's the Super Bowl.
My cooking style is really simple. Not a lot of ingredients, but all good quality, so you don't have to do that much to them.
My grandpa and I, whenever we would go to Myrtle Beach, we couldn't wait to get there and have fried seafood.
My favorite southern dish has to be fried chicken. I love to cook it. I love to have it in the summer.
Every great summer party starts with a list. Throwing something together chaotically ends up being more work than taking 15 minutes to make a plan first.
I love a waffle fry.
One of my favorite salads is spinach with pickled strawberries.
I love Montauk Pearl oysters. They are briny, creamy, and sweet. To me, they are the perfect oyster.
Nobody ever got fat eating vegetables.
Spritzers are festive yet economical. By adding seltzer and juice, you stretch the number of people a bottle of wine serves.
If I had to describe my diet in one word, it would be 'colorful.' I always think about adding color to the plate.
I've been using carrot tops to make pesto and broccoli stalks to make broccoli 'rice.' There's no reason to throw those things away - just get creative.
I don't subscribe to that no-carb thing. I'm so sick of the Atkins diet and all that. First of all, if you're not eating carbs, all you do is think about them. It's one of those things that you take out, and initially, you lose weight, but you are miserable.
Every great sandwich starts with a great bun, and my absolute favorites are Sara Lee Artesano Bakery Buns and Rolls - they're quick, simple and work perfectly with all my favorite recipes!
I make green juice daily.
I love cooking except for an annoying step - cleaning up.
Bobby Flay has become a great mentor to me. He's one of my very best friends and kind of like a big brother, and I always feel like I can go to him for any kind of advice.
I would have loved to have been an aesthetician. I love, like, anything to do with - I know this sounds kind of gross - but any kind of zit popping is so fascinating to me.
For my Mai Tai recipe, I juice fresh orange, pineapple, and lime. It's like vacation in a glass!
During the summer, I used to hate when my mom would call me inside to eat - it was such a drag to leave all the fun.
