The Best Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

The first officially day of fall is September 22nd—less than three weeks away. Aren't you looking forward to cable-knit sweaters and orange leaves and cold noses? To ring in the season, Brenda of A Farmgirl's Dabbles is sharing her recipe for the best lemon poppy seed bread, all warm from the oven...Read More >

The Best Homemade Pad Thai

This delicious recipe would make a perfect weeknight meal, and Jess from Cook Smarts says it's surprising easy to make at home. Here's how...
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Snacks around town

Now that Anton is almost seven weeks old, I'm starting to get the hang of exploring the city with two little dudes. We've had some chaotic moments (yesterday Toby was stuck in a bucket swing because I was carrying Anton and didn't have free arms to get him out!), but overall things are getting smoother.
One thing that makes things easier is having a stash of yummy snacks. When Anton is hungry, I'll breastfeed in public and always immediately get hungry like the wolf. And my man Toby is always starving:)
This is his "may I please have a snack" face.
Our go-to snacks are from NatureBox. They're a snack subscription service, and they send you five bags of natural snacks every month. Our favorites include guacamole bites, blueberry almonds, banana chips, dried apples and whole-wheat raspberry figgy bars. Toby loves them all, and the snacks are so much healthier than other snacks we’ve eaten in the past. You can choose the exact snacks you want (they have more than 90 different kinds) or let them surprise you.
You can sign up for the regular NatureBox (5 bags for $19.95), the Family Snacker (10 bags for $29.95) or the Professional Snacker (20 bags for $49.95). As I've mentioned before, I initially wondered if the snacks seemed expensive, but they're actually comparable to buying from Whole Foods or gourmet groceries. It works out to between $2.50 and $4 per bag, which is amazing.

Bonus: Get 50% off your first box with the code CUPOFJO (so you'll enjoy five bags for $9.95), if you'd like to give NatureBox a taste; good for two weeks.
(This post is sponsored by NatureBox, whose mission and snacks I adore. Photos by Julia Robbs for Cup of Jo. My shirt and bag are from Madewell, my sandals are Everlane, and Anton's baby carrier is a BabyHawk Mei Tai)

A fourth grader's documentary about school lunch

Have you guys heard about Yuck, the documentary about school lunches written and directed by a fourth grader? Zachary is the brave filmmaker who goes undercover to reveal the truth about the gross meals at his NYC elementary school. He's hilarious, adorable (love his polo shirt and gelled hair!) and totally intrepid ("I could get in big trouble for this," he says, while sneaking his mini HD camera into the cafeteria). He has a big future ahead of him!

Here's the trailer, below, and you can watch the full 20-minute documentary online here.

P.S. 20 favorite documentaries, and cooking with toddlers.

The Best Chopped Salad

On warm summer days, a chopped salad makes a fresh and delicious meal. Amanda of Marshalls Abroad agreed to share her favorite recipe, which she describes as an "amazing burst of flavor"...Read More >

The Best Garlic Bread

Right now, our tiny Manhattan apartment doesn't have room for a dinner table (we just squeeze around the coffee table every night), but one day when we do have a table, I have a fantasy of hosting Sunday night pasta dinners, with garlic bread filling the apartment with its delicious aroma. Fun, right? Well, this garlic bread from Clara of Channeling Contessa would be a slam dunk...
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The Best Caesar Salad (with a new dressing)

Caesar salad is always delicious, but raw egg and anchovies can turn people off—and the dressing can feel too rich. Well, Megan of Passports & Pancakes was raving to us about her mom's light and tangy dressing that changes the whole dish. Here's her secret recipe...
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The Best Chocolate-Chip Banana Muffins

Which foods do you find impossible to resist? Homemade banana bread might be at the top of my list. My mom used to bake it for us, and I remember hanging out during those childhood mornings, excitedly waiting for the bread to cool while padding around the kitchen in footie pajamas. Well, lucky for us, Cristina of The Roaming Kitchen has come up with this delicious chocolate-chip banana bread—in muffin form! Here goes...Read More >

Let's talk about cheese...

Great idea: Place toy animals on a cheese tray to show which kind of milk was used in each cheese (goat, sheep or cow).
Cheese-rolling festival in Gloucestershire, England, where guys hurtle themselves down a hill to catch a cheese wheel.
A mouthwatering mac n' cheese slideshow.
Made me laugh.
10 cheeses and their literary counterparts. (For example, Hemingway is like a Cabot Cheddar: Straightforward, no bull.)
How to make your own cheese wedding cake.
Biggest tip: Never eat cold cheese!
My personal secret to a great grilled cheese.
And an insane twist on a grilled cheese.
United States cutting boards. (Above is Brooklyn.)

P.S. How to create a perfect cheese plate, and stinky birthday cheese.

(Child photo by Jill Greenberg; literary cheeses via Shoko)

The Best Dutch Baby Pancakes

This mouthwatering recipe, by Stephanie of Girl Versus Dough, speaks for itself (and would be perfect for your next Saturday morning)...Read More >

The Best Kale Chips (with a Secret Ingredient)

My friend Samantha often whips up some kale chips for playdates, and our toddler sons wolf them up. It's so gratifying to see three-year-olds eat kale! Kale chips are delicious and addictive, so I was excited when Linda of The Tart Tart agreed to share a recipe with a twist...Read More >

Three flavored waters

Since we'll be spending the next few weeks doting on the new baby, I've scheduled daily regular posts and guest posts, which I hope you enjoy. Of course, I'd love to pop in now and again to share family photos and our birth story, as well!

First up: Do you ever make flavored water? It's easy and refreshing, and it's beautiful to serve when entertaining friends (or just reading a book outside). Plus, regular water gets boring! Below are three great variations we tried out...Read More >

The Best (French) Picnic Dish

What do you usually pack for picnics? We bring cheddar and crackers and grapes, but sometimes we're in the mood for something more inspired. Well, Rachel of The Little Paris Kitchen agreed to share her delicious recipe for fresh French cheese, which would be a great twist on a summer day. Here goes...
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Let's talk about summer...

Fake tattoos.
Wine sippy cups for sneaking on picnics.
Double wine tote, if you’re going the bottle route.
Picnic bag that unfolds into a blanket. Plus, 101 picnic dishes you can make in 20 minutes.
9 clever ways to top a sausage.
If you're looking for a summer uniform, ASOS has been killing it lately! (Above: grey tee, lace detail dress, embroidered tank, colorblock dress, sexy blank tank, floral midi skirt.)
Aviators are the most flattering sunglasses. Even Woody Allen looks cool in them.
If you can't play private ping pong at the Chateau Marmont, here's a fun tabletop alternative.
The proper way to make a Ben & Jerry's ice-cream sandwich. Awesome.
Three-tiered drink dispenser for summer entertaining.
A sweet book to read to your child.
And my good friend Gemma just published a book about five girls in Brooklyn. It's a hilarious and uplifting summer read. Congrats, Gemma!

P.S. My favorite summer sandals and sneakers.

(Ping pong table photo by David Swanson; wine sippy cups via Swissmiss)