A ritual of hospitality, friendship and tradition, mint tea is a lifestyle and social staple across the Maghreb region of Islamic Africa. Particularly important in Morocco, this flavored tea serves almost a ceremonial purpose and is usually enjoyed with a hefty dose of sugar. Whether you are welcoming friends into your home, arriving at a carpet boutique or having a roadside picnic, the preparation, serving and drinking of mint tea is a refreshment, ritual and art form - a prerequisite for almost any social interaction.

You might look to your favorite food truck for a cupcake on the run or a gourmet lunch in your parking lot, but a fledgling food truck in New York City called Drive Change is also a social enterprise that employs, trains and empowers young people (ages 16-25) who have recently come out of jail or prison. And they need your help to get going.

You may not know much about cumin, but chances are you've tasted it, and have probably even wondered what made the dish so delicious. Cumin is a powerful herb both in taste and in healing properties. Discover the hidden health benefits of cumin and how this underappreciated herb can spice up your life.

Over the last five years, the raw pet food movement has been going gangbusters. But does feeding raw meat or (gasp!) vegetables meet the dietary needs of your dog or cat?

"Foodie" is that broad label we either love or hate. Sometimes, it's a compliment—you're that person who knows everything about food. And sometimes, it's other than pleasant—you're that person who knows everything about food…

Chocolate has no season (thank the lord). It's earned its year-round status for quite a few reasons in both the healthy and pleasurable realms. But it can be a bit heavy for summer desserts—not to mention a stain hazard to your summer outfits. Enter white chocolate—the creamy, chocolaty but notably more summery version.

Stone fruit is on the rise at your local market, and the variety is endless! Peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries are just the tip of the iceberg; what about mirabelle plums, pluots, apriplums, donut peaches... It seems as though every farmer has his own delicious version of these fantastic fruits, and we're excited to try them all in sweet and savory dishes... hold the meat, it's meatless Monday!

Camper vans, that 70's staple, get green and groovy thanks to an innovative Dutch company called Tonke Campers.

I'm always using dried herbs, but I never realized how easy it was to dry them myself. You can save a whole lot of money and feel better about where your herbs are coming from by drying them yourself. This step-by-step guide to drying your own herbs is super straightfoward and all you need to get started. Enjoy!

If you missed our recent vegan DIY cooking demo at Whole Foods market, you not only missed out on some delicious recipes (no worries, you can find them all in the video), but you probably also missed the big announcement that we're giving away a Vitamix CIA™  Professional Series blender valued at $554 just in time for Independence Day. And, our good friends at Whole Foods are kicking in a $25 gift card towards the purchase of Driscoll's berries (to make the best summer smoothies ever!). Want a chance to win? Read on!

There’s something to be said for holding a handmade ceramics piece in your hand. There’s so much heft and character to it. The tactile effect is cool and soothing, whether the finish is smooth or cratered and bumpy. It feels like holding a piece of history, even though the piece may be recently made.  Whether just for display or everyday use, handmade ceramics are a wonderful alternative to big box store cookie cutter dishes, serving bowls, vases and more.

Cool down with a popsicle, but not one dripping with sugar water and artificial flavors. Instead, take a few minutes to pop out homemade fresh fruit popsicles that are devoid of fruit concentrates, artificial flavoring, and added sugar. This way, you can enjoy this cool treat any time of the day, from breakfast to dessert.

Setting off on a road trip with friends is a quintessential summer experience: sweet tunes are blasting, snacks are passed around and new landscapes roll by as you chart your course to unknown places. Whether your sense of adventure is being called forth by the mountains, the desert, the beach or just the open road, planning a trip can be almost as fun as the journey itself. But you still may need a few tips from our road trip planner.

Ladies, it’s mid-June. By now, you’ve probably shown off that summer skin having donned a stylin’ swimsuit a few times, sported your super-chic mini every other weekend since late May, and exposed your arms and feet more times than you can count.

While you look darn fine in your summer duds, your skin may be beginning to show the slightest amount of wear and tear (and clogged pores) from one too many sweaty trips to the park or beach. Get your skin back into its original, radiant condition by giving one of the following skin-smoothing homemade beauty products a try.

Juicy, red strawberries are the ubiquitous fruit of early summer, but behold the newest trend in culinary circles: green strawberries. Creative chefs across the country have been embracing these berries in their unripe form and adding them to their culinary creations for a bit of lip-puckering kick. Green strawberries tend to be firm but nonetheless flavor-packed, lending themselves beautifully to savory and sweet dishes, and most notoriously to pickles. Stay on top of the food trends and surprise your guests and friends at your next dinner party or picnic with one of these tasty, green strawberry recipes!