There are so many health trends out there that it’s hard to keep track of what’s good and what’s just unsavory. When it comes to being a vegan, it can be hard to find recipes and products that adhere to our dietary restrictions but don’t taste like glue. We did some research and gathered our 5 favorite products that all vegans and vegan-curious foodies must try. – Grace Texter

Chia Star

The brand Chia Star uses chia seeds in their delicious beverage products to provide an excellent source of nutrients to their consumers. Chock full of antioxidants, omega 3’s, calcium, protein, and fiber, Chia Star drinks are also vegan and gluten free. Some of their flavors include Blackberry Lime Refresh, Peach Green Tea Fusion, Pineapple Honey Love, and their newest flavor Lemon Berry. We love this vegan product because it is just as nutritious for you as it is tasty. Visit Chia Star’s website for more information.

Quinoa

Quinoa is often compared to rice and may be prepared in the same way but it is not a whole grain, it is a seed. It is great as a substitute for any rice, barley, or pilaf in a recipe and can be served hot or cold. It is a great vegan food because it provides all 9 essential amino acids to help keep your unique diet balanced. It also is gluten-free and cholesterol-free. Check out this website for some quinoa recipes you won’t be disappointed with.

Tofu Scramble

You won’t believe it’s not eggs! All it takes is a bit of soft tofu and some herbs and spices, and you’ve got a totally vegan meal you might even think tastes better than the usual. Here’s a tasty recipe we love from Bon Appetit.

Chickpeas

These little gems, also known as garbanzo beans, are full of protein and fiber. They taste delicious alone, in a salad, or (and widely favored) mashed up with some tahini and garlic for a delicious hummus dip. Here is a recipe for a vegan Creamy Cashew Kale and Chickpea dish that will fill you up and leave you wanting for more vegan-licious delights!

Almond Milk

Almond Milk is a delicious alternative to regular dairy milk; it is even more delicious with a subtle almond-y flavor and a consistency that makes you feel healthier just sipping it. When it comes to baking as a vegan, things can get tricky. In this regard, almond milk is a savior. This No-Bake Espresso Vegan Cookie recipe uses almond milk instead of dairy, making sure we don’t have to compromise our vegan preferences.

We here at Shecky’s love to bring in sweets to the office to treat ourselves when we feel like indulging. These sporadic spurts of sweet morsels usually are sparked by someone stumbling onto any of the many food blogs that we are obsessed with. We decided to share some of our favorite pastry and dessert blogs with you so you can get just as inspired as we are by the many delectable recipes! – Grace Texter

Butter Me Up Brooklyn

http://buttermeupbrooklyn.com/

This fantastic blog by Lillie has the most scrumptious recipes of every kind. But we especially covet her various sweets. From her brownies to her tarts, we trust that every recipe will produce a delicious dessert that will leave us wanting more… and MORE!

Sweet Roots

www.sweetroots.blogspot.com

We love to hate this blog because all the photos are beautiful and make us hungry at our desks. Author Mary Banducci calls herself a modern-day forager, mother, wife, and as you’ll see, an incredibly talented chef of non-dairy gluten-free foods. The recipe for the Ginger Cake pictured above is to die.

Orangette

http://orangette.blogspot.com/

This quaint blog by Molly hosts fantastic recipes alongside actual blog posts focused around Molly’s life (and her scrumptious little baby) that keep us coming back for more! What more could you ask for than tasty recipes with great reading on the side that inspires you to follow your dreams?

A Splash of Vanilla

www.asplashofvanilla.com

We love Emma from Australia, and how her sweet personality matches her love of sweets. She’s got the best taste in dessert, and her recipes often suggest “smashing up some biscuits” like for these Lemon Coconut Bars.

Food52

www.food52.com

If you haven’t discovered the Food52 phenomenon yet, you are really in for a treat. This website has a whole archive of delicious recipes constantly rolling in. You’ll not only get a slew of ideas for tonight’s dinner every single day, but you may find a recipe for chocolate cabernet cake and before you realize anything has happened, it’s 7 hours later.

Pastry Studio

http://pastrystudio.blogspot.com/

We love the way Pastry Studio treats each sweet treat like an artistic masterpiece. Photographed with delicacy and precision, the morsels couldn’t look more mouth-watering. And each recipe is written in prose that convinces you to dive right in and start baking! Go for it!

Baking Obsession

http://www.bakingobsession.com/

It is almost torture to scroll through Baking Obsession because each and every recipe gets better and better and BETTER! If that is even possible… Vera has turned her obsession for baking into her career and generously shares her creations with all of us! Of course, we may not make it as beautiful as she, but it tastes so good so we have to forgive ourselves for any error in presentation… right?

Dorie Greenspan

http://doriegreenspan.com

While Dorie has many recipes of various categories, she is a master of all things sweet! She has written many a cookbook and mainly focused on sweets and cakes. However, we love her blog because she not only shares her recipes with us, she keeps us updated on social media and issues that are important to her. Way to go Dorie! Keep on keepin’ on!

Scrambled Eggs

Beat eggs, dash of optional milk, salt, pepper. Melt a little butter over medium heat, add the egg mix, and massage minimally with spatula. Remove when slightly undercooked. High heat and lots of movement makes for tough eggs.

Roasted Chicken

Wash chicken, cut the backbone with poultry scissors (gotta learn to do it some time). Pat dry. Season all over with olive oil, salt, dried rosemary, pepper. Place in oven preheated to 475 for about 20-25 minutes. Now take some of the bastings, mix in a mug with paprika, and brush over chicken. After 30 minutes reduce heat to 350 and cook for an hour longer, brushing chicken with paprika and juice every 20 minutes.

Roasted Vegetables

Slice up onions, carrots, butternut squash, potatoes (yumm) etc. Toss in olive oil and kosher salt. Spread out thinly on cookie sheet. Throw in 425-degree oven for about 10-15 minutes, knock heat down to 400 and cook until tender.

Steak

Take a good steak, pat it dry, salt it on each side, and throw in sizzling hot cast iron pan with butter for 5 minutes a side for medium rare. Let rest for five minutes.

Homemade Mac n’ Cheese

Easy Mac is over. Especially once you realize how tasty homemade mac is. Here’s what you do:

Boil water for your pasta. In another pot on low heat, add 1 cup milk, salt, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, and stir gently. Add about 1.5 cups shredded cheese and stir slowly until it’s melted and starts to thicken like a paste. Add salt, pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta. Add hot sauce.

Basic Tomato Sauce

Now that you’ve seen The Great Gatsby, it’s time to get together and do your own rendition of the 1920s, while practicing your Long Island accent. We have the perfect ideas for hosting a raving soiree – from Gatsby-inspired cocktails, to jazz-age music – for way less than Mr. Gatsby would have done it himself. Here’s a roundup of what you’ll need to swing like the upper social echelon of 1920s New York City in your own apartment, without having to spend half your paycheck.

1. Cocktails

The Daisy Buchanan

An obvious choice and reasonably priced. Grab a few bottles of cheap Champagne, a bottle of pear liqueur, some lemons, and if you don’t already have champagne saucers, pick up the plastic ones from the dollar store (they work great!).  Like Daisy, the recipe for this drink is a beautiful, elegant and feminine. The lemon peel, dropped into the Champagne flute, gives it a rustic contrast, like Daisy herself – a city girl misplaced in the country.

Here’s how you make it:

• 1/2 ounce pear liqueur ($6 a bottle)
• Champagne ($15 for three bottles)
• Wide strip of lemon peel, for garnish ($2 for 3 lemons)

In a Champagne flute, add pear liqueur. Fill with champagne and garnish with lemon peel.

Total cost: $23

Spa Day

Design an afternoon of pampering for you and your mom to spend together. Adorn your living room with scented candles, throw pillows, and mellow music. Then commence the indulgence!

Okay, so the pressure is on. You’re hosting a dinner party for some friends and you’re the star of the night—the chef! Sometimes plans are made way in advance and when the time comes, you may find yourself scrambling for cash. But no need to worry, we’ve got a scrumptious recipe that will leave your guests feeling full and happy… but most importantly it will keep your wallet happy too! Add a few bottles of inexpensive wine or champagne to the menu and you’ll be in for a good night.  – Natalie DeBari

This easy kabob recipe is such a versatile choice for a dinner party. Depending on your guests, everyone most likely has a different preference when it comes to food. Although the recipe calls for pork tenderloin, feel free to channel your inner chef and substitute the meat for something else if pork doesn’t appeal to your guests. If you want to take it to the next level you can even make an assortment of kabobs to make sure everyone is happy—even a vegetarian! The nice weather is finally here, so gas up those grills and get to cooking. Depending on your choice of meat, this meal can range from $30-60.

To Start

You can easily start this dinner off with a nice tossed salad. Colorful and simple, with salt and pepper.

While you take the time to finish off the kabobs on the grill, your guests can munch on their healthy appetizer. Once the kabobs are hot and ready to go, they can come right off the grill and onto a serving platter. Accompany your dinner with some summer-y cocktails or maybe some wine on the side. Healthy, delicious, and cost effective—now that’s a recipe for success!

For Dinner

Here’s your recipe:

• 2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut into 1-inch cubes*
• 1/2 cup Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 (20 ounce) can Dole pineapple chunks, drained
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 2 red or green bell peppers, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

1. Pierce meat with a fork so marinade can penetrate. Combine teriyaki sauce and oil. Reserve 2 tablespoons in separate bowl. Pour remainder of marinade over meat cubes and marinate 1 hour, turning occasionally.

2. Thread meat on skewers alternating meat with vegetables and pineapple chunks. Place on grill 4 to 5 inches from heat and cook 15 minutes. Turn skewers and brush ingredients with reserved marinade, and cook to desired doneness.

For dessert

An easy favorite. All you need is a dozen fresh peaches and some light white wine (a good Chardonnay will do).

In individual glasses, fill halfway with wine, and add 5-6 chilled peach slices. Serve on the back porch with forks.

Yolanda Foster from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is the most home-oriented housewife on the show: she loves to entertain, cook, and decorate her own house as much as her friends’. She says, “I should have been Martha Stewart’s daughter.” Read below to find out some of her best tips for throwing a dinner party and for keeping a beautiful home. -Victoria Barton

1. Flowers

To set a dinner table, she says that “flowers are your number one friend” and she loves hydrangeas because “it’s a cheap way of getting big arrangements and big volume.” She also suggests keeping the arrangements low so that guests can see each other across the table.

2. Incorporating Fruit into Arrangements

In flower arrangements, she uses fruits such as lemons cut in half to decorate the bouquet by propping them on a stick.

3. Centerpieces

For centerpieces, she starts at the middle and works her way out. She adds organic elements like branches with leaves and candles with bark accents.

4. Variety

She chooses fruits and vegetables that follow the same color-scheme to complement one another as a centerpiece. Other combinations include red roses with apples and tomatoes for other occasions.

5. Her fridge

She custom designed a glass-door fridge that showcases her fruits and vegetables that are meticulously arranged in wicker baskets. She’s proud of her design, and insists that it has been copied by friends who have visited her home.

6. Keep Organized

In an interview with Us Weekly, she says, “I think I was born organized. I have a huge need to stay organized because when I’m organized and there’s no stuff on the floor and no clutter, it gives me energy to create new things.”

7. Keep Trying

She says, “I’m not a great cook, but I’m not afraid to make mistakes, so I’ll make four or five recipes hoping one of them comes out great. My tip is to keep trying. I get all of the little cookbooks and check it out, and keep trying until there’s something [David Foster] loves.”

8. Avoid Overdoing It

In her blog, she warns against over-decorating: “Clutter, overcrowding or over-decorating are overlooked threats to any successful event. Therefore, it’s best to rely on the simplicity of neutral pieces from a good china collection. Whites and creams are beautiful for chargers, plates and side dishes, giving you the ability to add accents of colors with napkin rings and table décor.”

Just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day, we’ve made shopping easy to gift your mom this year. Whether she’s a Happy Hour Mom, an Eco-Friendly Mom, or an Artsy Mom, we’ve got you covered with some unique and thoughtful gifts. – Victoria Barton

This weekend’s gonna be a doozy. Saturday May 4th kicks off the 2013 Kentucky Derby, and Sunday May 5th  is the annual celebration of margaritas (and Mexican victory) – Cinco de Mayo.

There are many variations on the signature beverages for these occasions, but classics are simply the best. Whether you’re inviting friends over to enjoy the races or taking guacamole and BBQ to the roof, these simple recipes will be so easy you can teach your guests to refill their own glasses.

Easy Mint Julep

The trick is to prepare the simple mint syrup ahead of time. This is done best with fresh mint leaves, a few large mason jars, sugar, water, and maybe 5 hours (it doesn’t have to steep this long, but if you can, let it). The kind of bourbon you use matters less, since you’re mixing it, so we suggest leaving the Woodford Reserve and Maker’s Mark for a really special occasion. Good inexpensive bourbons (under $20) are Ezra Brooks, Four Roses Yellow Label, and Rebel Yell.

What You Need

For the Simple Syrup:

• About 20 fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar (make more if you’re expecting more guests)

To make a mint julep:

• 2-3 oz. bourbon
• a measuring jigger
• plenty of crushed ice
• a copper cup
• 2 tsp simple syrup

How To

Make the Simple Syrup:

Boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup of water for 1 minute. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add mint sprigs. Allow this mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Wait until it’s completely cool (really check to make sure) and then pour it into a mason jar. You can then store this for later. (Make more if you’re expecting more guests – that’s what the extra jars are for).

Make a Mint Julep:

Fill a mint julep cup (or copper mug, or pewter cup) with ice, add bourbon and mint syrup. Stir well and garnish with a mint sprig. Enjoy the races! Or compete for the best wide-rim hat.

Easy Classic Margarita on the Rocks

This recipe doesn’t use Cointreau. No no. The special ingredient is fresh oranges (you can throw in a few jalapeno slices if you want – but be sure to strain them out before pouring!)

What you Need

• 1.5 ounce Silver Tequila (Jose Cuervo Silver)
• 0.5 ounce fresh lime juice
• splash of simple syrup
• 1 fresh orange cut into wedges
• sea salt for the rim

How To

Make a Classic Margi:

Add ice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and fresh oranges to a shaker. Make sure you squeeze the juice from the orange wedges into the shaker before you drop them in. Next, shake the heck out of it.

Salt the rim of your glass by pouring sea salt into a small saucer (the saucer should be at least as large as the circumference of the glass you’re using). Rub a lime or orange wedge around the rim of the glass. Turn the glass upside down and spin it around on the saucer so the salt sticks to the rim. Add a little ice to the glass, strain the margi over the top. Serve. Cinco Oh My-o, that’s good.

Spring time is in full swing — tights are off, spring dresses are on and for those of us in New York City, the most telltale sign: Mister Frostee trucks are posted up on every street corner. Undeniably, it is also wedding season. If you’re like us, you’ve received your fair share of wedding invites and between planning for new dresses, shoes, ‘dos and gifts, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of all that dough you’ll be spending. Don’t you worry. We’ve got some easy, fun and very cute DIY wedding gift ideas (read: inexpensive) that even the…umm…least crafty of us can manage to execute.  -Jacqueline Vasquez

1. Chalkboard Wine Glasses

We loved this simple (and, might we add, incredibly chic) idea that’s perfect for your wine-loving couple. We can appreciate craft projects with fewer than 5 steps to follow, which this definitely is. Chalkboard spray paint, cheap wine glasses and painter’s tape is all you’ll need! Pair this adorably personalized set of wine glasses with a nice bottle of wine and a box of chalk. How to make this.

2. Monthly Date Box

What couple doesn’t love to go on a free date? And who doesn’t love splitting the cost of a gift with friends? Precisely why this is one of our top picks. The idea of the “Monthly Date Box” is that you come up with 12 fun (and inexpensive) date ideas — one for every month of the year — and then provide the money to do it. In the case of the genius blogger who came up with it, they chose to provide $100 for each date. Decorate a small box and envelopes, and inside each one, include a description of the date along with the moolah. How to make this.

3. Coffee Mugs

Talk about adorable! Personalize a set of cute mugs for your soon-to-be-married couple by using a Sharpie (and, heck, why not make that Sharpies — you know, different colors and all) and writing something cute on each one that describes him and her. Some cute mugs we came across included “Mr” and “Mrs,” “I love you” and “I know,” and “He loves strong coffee” and “She loves green tea” for starters. The best part is, after you’re done getting artsy, all you have to do is bake the mugs for 30 minutes at 350°F. We would create a little gift basket out of it with exotic coffees or teas for them to enjoy on their first mornings of wedded bliss. How to make this.

4. Photo Coasters

If you have a Monica and Chandler couple friend, this next gift is perfect for them. Monica wouldn’t dream of putting a drink down without a coaster, and so —if you’ve got a friend like Monica tying the knot — we suggest gifting them with a sweet set of coasters like these. Just take six photos of the happy couple along with six 4×4 tiles from a hardware store and some good ol’ Mod Podge to get the job done. Put one layer of Mod Podge on the tile and lay down one of the photos. Follow that with another layer of Mod Podge and let it dry. Afterwards, add some felt pieces to the bottom of each tile and you’re all set! How to make this.

5. The Picture Frame

We couldn’t complete our round-up of favorite DIY wedding gift ideas without presenting a “frame” idea, obviously. At the top of most craft ideas, we found frames full of monograms, song lyrics and dates of weddings (i.e. EST 1998) but our favorite was this: A montage of all the greatest couples in history—past and preset, real and fictitious—with the couple’s name at the center of it all. Collectively, can we all please “Awwwww?” Because, we definitely did when we found this idea.