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Janet McCracken

The Tomboy Cake

Inspired by a style of cake from California’s Miette bakeries, we frost the top and middle layers of this stunner but leave the sides naked to showcase the almond cake. Don’t have a pastry bag or star tip to frost the layers? Fill a resealable plastic bag with the frosting, snip off a corner, and pipe away.

How to Make Perfect Layer Cakes

Follow these simple techniques and we guarantee you many layers of success

Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake

Don't be intimidated by homemade ice cream cake—this mint recipe is worth the effort.

Banana-Chocolate Chip Cake With Peanut Butter Frosting

This chocolate chip cake recipe is perfect for beginners—the result is moist, forgiving, and easy. Jif creamy peanut butter is our favorite for the decadent frosting.

Carve Your Cantaloupe with Confidence

Become a master of melon (and alliteration) with our step-by-step guide

Wisdom From Mom, and Then Some

In her belated Kids Week post, Deputy Food Editor Janet McCracken explains her stance on junk food and why Bugs Bunny is a good role model

The Faster Way to Soak Beans for Cooking

Forget presoaking them overnight--our method is much faster (and fun, because you get to call it the "power soak")

The Mighty Baking Sheet

Make this kitchen staple your best friend

5 Reasons That Indoor Grills Are Essential This Winter

Missing your grill as we head into February? This post's for you

Pretty Please Watch Out for These Common Thanksgiving Dinner Mistakes

Yes, you really do need to defrost your turkey ahead of time.

7 Ways to Use Fewer Dishes

Make the worst part of cooking a little more palatable.

Inside the Test Kitchen

For anything with flesh too soft to stand up to a regular peeler, a serrated one will do the trick.

Fergus Henderson Says Gray Salt is Like Magic (And He's Right, Of Course)

If you're a regular reader, you know about BA's obsession with Maldon salt. But Fergus Henderson reminded us that there's more than one salt to crush on...