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Best Play Food Whether they’re whipping up a silly snack for a sibling, heading to a pretend farmers market, or setting up a picnic with dolls, toddlers (and older kids, too) love to make believe with pretend food. A play food set is a great way for kids to boost their imaginations, and it can also help them learn about and get familiar with foods (including vegetables) outside of mealtime. There are so many adorable play food sets and play kitchen accessories available today for basically any type of cuisine and price point you could want....

I’m on a mission to narrow down the most common toddler toy categories to the top picks to help all of us busy parents be able to make fast choices that deliver on quality and affordability. Because shopping for toys and gifts is fun, but shouldn’t require a rabbit hole of internet searching every time we want to pick up a new set of bath toys! Here are my very favorite toys for toddlers for gifts, toddler Christmas gifts, kids birthday gifts, outdoor play, getting kids in the kitchen, and more....

So you’ve probably heard of buffalo cauliflower, at least in terms of cauliflower wings. But instead of dredging individual florets of cauliflower, hear me out–let’s combine cauliflower into a delicious buffalo cream sauce and toss it with pasta. Who’s in?! This recipe is deliciously smoky, it’s peppery, some may even call it spicy (you know if that’s you), and it will be ready and on your plate in just about 30 minutes....

So, have you ever heard of Chicken Marbella? If not, it’s the signature dish of the famous Silver Palate cookbook, written by Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso. They succeeded Julia Child as the food editor for Parade, so were a pretty big deal. To me, this dish is a close relative to Chicken Tagine, as both incorporate olives and dried fruit. But Marbella also has some Italian influences, making it a beautiful fusion of both the north and south shores of the Mediterranean....

Frozen cherries, which are easy to use since they are already pitted, are such a great fruit for smoothies. They are very sweet and flavorful—and they pair well with a range of other produce. I like to use them in this cherry smoothie along with yogurt, banana, and optional add-ins. It’s a healthy breakfast recipe for kids, a delicious and satisfying easy snack to make at home, and the leftovers can be frozen to make a fruit popsicle or fruit ice pop....

This post is sponsored by Stonyfield. Last year, I started making Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough and it quickly became one of my favorite ways to make pizza dough because it’s both super easy and very delicious. I then realized I can use a similar recipe and method to make flatbread that is tender, flavorful, and so darn easy. You can mix together this bread dough and have the whole thing ready to eat under 20 minutes....

Slow-simmered to allow the flavors to mingle, this green bean recipe is like nothing you have tried before. I’ve been cooking Fasolakia for years, and always wanted to bring it to GypsyPlate. Finally, I’m very excited to tell you all about my favorite green bean recipe. Here, green beans are allowed to braise in a delicious tomato mixture with loads of olive oil. Yes, this recipe calls for plenty of olive oil, in the spirit of Mediterranean style cooking....

Chicken Puree for Baby Incorporating iron-rich and protein-packed foods when you start offering baby solids can be a challenge, but this easy puree is a great option to have in the mix. It’s fast to make, stores easily, and can have a variety of flavors according to what you have on hand or prefer. And you only need a few ingredients to make this baby food, so you don’t need to worry about spending a lot of money on ingredients you won’t be able to use up....

Easy Breakfast Recipes Whenever we’re juggling the morning rush (even on days when we’re not actually going anywhere!), I find that simple recipes and ideas are really the way to go. And I don’t think you need to cook breakfast everyday, but if you’re wanting some options, these easy breakfast recipes are my favorites. TIP: Scroll down to see my fav non-recipe quick breakfast ideas too! Healthy Breakfast Ideas Each of these breakfast recipes has whole grains, low added sugars, kid-friendly flavors and super basic ingredients....

Fruit Sticks Ah, fruit sticks. My not-so-secret way to serve up all of the fruit that my kids have been ignoring in the fridge. Seriously, this instantly makes fruit more fun, uses up lingering fruit, and simply makes snack time more engaging. You can do it with fruit the kids love and with fruit they are learning to like. And you can make it for the kids or with the kids....

After the rave reviews on my Lemon Yogurt Cake, I knew I needed to lean into using this flavor combination in more recipes. And I am so excited to share this Lemon Yogurt Muffin recipe with you. It is so easy to stir this recipe up in one bowl, without any special equipment, and the texture and flavor is just amazing. The brightness of the lemon comes through so well, and the tender crumb of the muffins ensures that these taste like a bakery-fresh treat....

I serve it with crusty bread and sprinkle some feta cheese on top, and let me tell you, this meatless dish is a total treat for you and your loved ones. While Greek cuisine may be best known in these parts for its gyros and souvlaki, it’s also one of my top choices for when we’re looking for a light vegetarian meal. Greek White Bean Soup is one of my all time favorites, and their Braised Green Beans are almost too good....

Healthy Apple Cake When it came time to make a birthday cake for my third kiddo, I wanted something easy so I could enjoy the day with him and also yummy of course. This Healthy Apple Cake fits both of those goals—you can make the cake the day before if you want and it simply stirs together in a bowl. It’s sweetened with maple syrup and applesauce, so it’s less sweet than traditional cakes but still super moist and flavorful....

Grain/buddha bowls have been hip for years, and I can see why. They’re super versatile, stuffed with veggies and your choice of protein, usually served with a whole grain, smothered with a yummy sauce, and the perfect vehicle for eating more avocados. They also are great for meal-planning and meal prepping. The veggies can be batch washed and chopped, you can cook the grain in advance, make the protein so it’s ready to go, and have dressings galore stored in your fridge....

When it comes to putting fruit in muffins and scones, raspberries are my favorite. The tart-sweet juicy bursts they bring to the treat can’t be beat! And when it comes down to it, it does not get better than these buttery raspberry scones! They have a slightly craggy and crispy exterior white being perfectly fluffy and tender on the inside. These scones can’t help but look a bit rustic with raspberries bursting out at the edges, their pink juice staining the scones and caramelizing against the baking sheet....

How to Cut Acorn Squash Acorn squash, with its curved shape, can be tricky and intimidating to cut. But with this easy technique, you’ll never have any issue again. This is such a great way to meal prep squash to cook whenever you’re ready to enjoy it. I love acorn squash for its mellow, slightly sweet flavor. It’s such a pretty yellow color when cooked and can be enhanced with a range of herbs and spices....

Made with rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, peanut butter, chocolate and more, this recipe is a cinch to mix together and set up. And the texture is like a rice krispie treat, only with more flavor and substance. These are seriously delish and also super satisfying—a perfect easy snack to make at home to keep us fueled! Along with my Fruit and Nut Bars, these chocolate granola bars are one of my go-to homemade snack recipes to make for friends when they have a new baby in the house or to make when I’m trying to stock up with freezer meals....

And it’s so easy. Just a few little tips and you’ll be cooking this like a pro. This traditional winter meal, so famous on the east coast, is about to become a new family favorite! We love our soups and stews at GypsyPlate. Jambalaya soup… zuppa Toscana… albondigas soup… Greek fasolada… and so many more. We just can’t get enough of those cozy bowls! Today, we’re bringing you a real classic, Oyster Stew!...

The tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat, slow-cooked for hours, was smothered in a rich, wine infused wine and tomato sauce with a hint of sherry, and the golden heap of French fries next to it soaked up every bit of that flavorful sauce. I can still remember the warmth and comfort this dish brought. Though it’s a popular winter dish, Rabo de Toro always transports me to the warm streets of southern Spain, specifically the cities of Seville, Córdoba, and Mijas, where I’ve had some of the best versions of this stew....

Can it get any better than that? How about putting it all on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes! This vintage recipe, popular in restaurants and diners for decades, is a soul warming meal that will be loved by all… With a world of amazing flavors to explore, sometimes we get sidetracked and forget about good old fashioned homestyle cooking. But sometimes those nostalgiac meals are just what we’re looking for....