Editor's Note: This is an article written by Cooking Channel's Kelsey Nixon. Here, Kelsey debunks the idea that date night dinners are just for weekends.

This week, my husband and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. It almost makes me sad that we aren't considered "newlyweds" anymore; thank goodness we still feel like we fit into this category. We're far from perfect, but we're still smitten with one another. I've been told that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach countless times, and while I partially agree with that cliché, the thoughtfulness that surrounds food often gets me much further.

Scheduling meaningful date nights can feel like another thing to pile on a to-do list — not to mention it can be tough on the pocketbook if, in your eyes, this means fancy restaurants and Broadway shows.

See how she transforms Tuesdays into terrific date nights — along with her favorite date night dinner! — when you read on.

Editor's Note: The following is an article written by Cooking Channel personality Kelsey Nixon. Here, Kelsey makes a case for summertime slow cooking.When I got married a few years ago, I was kindly gifted seven slow cookers. You heard me right: seven of them. One of them was even in the shape of a football! I tucked them away, giving them to friends and family who were interested, because I was sure I'd never have use for a slow cooker.

Thank goodness I've put that silly idea out of my head and started embracing my slow cooker! I really fell in love with this essential kitchen tool during cooler months for those hearty dishes that cook low and slow for hours on end. It's the epitome of little effort with big payoff. Ever since, I've been on a crusade to make sure that everyone I know is in on the slow cooker secret. Everyone should have one — I'm convinced.

Find out why slow cooker recipes are ideal warm-weather foods when you keep reading.

Editor's Note: The following is a guest article written by the always amazing Kelsey Nixon. Here, Kelsey explains how she comes up with the recipes that she features on her Cooking Channel show.

As I chat with friends and viewers about the new season of Kelsey's Essentials, one of the things they find most surprising is that an entire "season" is actually shot in about a week. When we shoot my show we basically move in to the set for a week, and then won't return to the set for several months until it's time to shoot the following season.

Right now season two of Kelsey's Essentials is just kicking off on Cooking Channel and I am in between seasons. As I gear up for the next round of filming, it is of the utmost importance that I am constantly in recipe development mode. After filming an entire season, which is usually around 50-60 original recipes, I am in serious need of some inspiration!

To find out what dish has Kelsey inspired in Italy, keep reading.

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Cooking Channel personality Kelsey Nixon; she's the host of Kelsey's Essentials, which debuts its second season tomorrow. In her first article, she discusses three of her Summer must haves.

To kick things off I wanted to share a favorite tip, tool, and technique that I consider essential in my kitchen during the Summer months.

• Tip: Break up with your oven. Preheating the oven on a warm, Summer day for dinner or dessert can send the internal temperature of your home or apartment soaring through the roof. Summer is a great time to make recipes that don’t require the oven. This usually means quick cooking times, fresh food, and cooler living spaces. On the first episode of Kelsey’s Essentials, airing June 25, I share my favorite Summer desserts that require no cooking in the oven. I’ll even show you how to bake a cake in the refrigerator!

See Kelsey's essential tool and cooking technique when you read more.

Ever wonder what it would be like to travel the world teaching seminars on cheese? We have, so we asked the food industry's most glamorous cheese lady, Laura Werlin, to give us a glimpse at her delicious life! Here, she shares a recent experience.

Most people don’t feel sorry for me when I tell them I have to go to places like Aspen, Pebble Beach, South Beach and similar hardship locations to conduct cheese and wine pairings (not). This week’s trip was no exception. I got to go to the other mile-high city, Boulder, to talk grilled cheese and wine.

The event was a fundraiser for Attention Homes, which is a pretty amazing organization that provides residential treatment and shelter to at-risk kids between the ages of 12 and 18. Attention Homes is also heavily involved in helping the area’s approximately 150 homeless kids by getting them the help they need.

Who ever thinks much about the problem of homeless kids? Evidently it’s a much bigger problem than we knew. But I digress. What better way to shine the spotlight on such a great organization than through the joie de vivre that comes from an evening devoted to good cheese and wine in a fantastic setting?

To learn what kind of sandwiches she served, keep reading.

Last weekend was the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. Since we couldn't make it, we asked cheese expert Laura Werlin to give us a behind-the-scenes look! Here she discusses her seminars and provides some pointers on how to pair wine with her specialty, grilled cheese.
When you think of Pebble Beach, you probably think of golf. But not me. All I can think of is that it’s the home of the utterly, completely, amazing over-the-top Pebble Beach Food & Wine event. The fourth annual extravaganza, which featured chefs like Tom Colicchio, Anne Burrell, Tim Love, Daniel Boulud, Stephen Pyles, Christopher Kostow, Chris Cosentino, Michael Chiarello, Gary Danko, Ming Tsai, and approximately 85 others, took place over a sunny weekend in April. I was lucky enough to be one of the presenters to do what I do — say cheese, of course. I gave two seminars, each with a different theme. One was grilled cheese and wine pairing (yep, you read that right) and the other was cheese paired with the über impressive wines of Oregon winery Domaine Serene.

For the cheese and Domaine Serene presentation, I paired six American cheeses with five wines that included Chardonnay, Pinot, Rosé and Syrah.

To see what cheeses she paired with the wines from Oregon, keep reading.

Who better to cover the last episode of Top Chef All-Stars than former cheftestant (and contender from this season!) Fabio Viviani? Chef, take it away!

It's over!! I mean almost. The finale is here in the sunny Bahamas, I'd rather today to go water-skiing than get picked and help my two brothers (hey, at the end they ARE from a different mother), but I'll do my fair share and talk them into NOT picking me, but I promise that if I will I'll give heart and soul. Richard is worry.

Mike want to beat Richie and start some serious physiological warfare, Mike is hilarious and Richard is so worry that he can't even talk back to him.

I laughed my butt off when Mike said, "I hope you lose" in his face and Richard instead of go for the throat and answer "you know Mike? F*ck you, you foul mouth piece of sh*t you can kiss my ass I will win this and then I'll rub it in your face" type of thing, he all calm and worry said, "I hope you lose too." AAWWW Richie! That is the sweetest mean things I ever heard! You such a good guy!!!

The rest of Fabio's humorous recap is after the jump.

Who better to cover the finale of Top Chef All-Stars than former cheftestant (and contender from this season!) Fabio Viviani? Fabio, take it away!Here we go. We're getting close to knowing who the Top Chef will be. I mean, these people are all Top Chefs in my book already, and honestly I believe that everyone but me was truly at a certain point thinking that they were actually going to win.

Now, let's get to the juice: three last standing! Richard is worried already, Mike is on a roll, and the Black Hammer is doing some voodoo in order to bring the kiss of death on the neck of the other two chefs! You guys know how much I love Antonia. We are friends, so please stop giving me crap about the fact that I always side with the boys, 'cause no one make the ladies happy like I already try to do. I'm just having fun with her.

The rest of Fabio's humorous recap is after the jump.

For the conch episode of Top Chef All-Stars, we have Finnish favorite, chef Stefan Richter, sharing his thoughts.

What's up everybody?! Lots has happened since I blogged last time. I have been to Finland, my homeland, and I opened a steakhouse in a beautiful cotton factory on a river in Tampere. You can see pictures on my Facebook or follow me on Twitter, if you like. Finland was fun, exiting, and a little emotional. My mom used to work across my new restaurant, 45 years ago as a chef at the Grand Hotel Tammer in Tampere.

Back to Top Chef: I haven't watched it since my Paisano Fabio got kicked off and I'm not really in the loop. So Carla is gone, Marcel is gone, Jamie my little love is gone, and who else is worth mentioning? This season it is pretty boring in my eyes, not because I'm not on, because most of it looks so calculated and preorganized and made up. And Sesame Street, really? What's next week? Hannah Montana or Justin Bieber? Maybe the Mickey Mouse Club on Masters? BRAVO you want some challenges? Hire me, I'll make them up for you.

Keep reading for the rest of Stefan's recap.

Our favorite food truck chef is back! Owner of 3-Sum Eats and past Top Chef competitor Ryan Scott is here to share his thoughts on last night's Bahamas episode of Top Chef All-Stars. Take it away Chef Scott!Hey guys, you know, I must say, it does feel somewhat surreal watching friends of yours on a show that you were once on. That surreal feeling deepens especially considering these are close friends — people I have cooked with and have nothing but the utmost respect for. For instance, last weekend I was out in Charleston, SC, doing a cooking competition with Carla Hall and then three days later she's on the TV staring back at me as I kick back on the couch with my girlfriend. These are some of my favorite people in the world here, and some serious chefs too.

It can get straight up emotional to watch. There's a whole lot more than just a cooking competition on the line right now — there's integrity, reputation, jobs, families, mortgages. Not to get all sappy on you here folks, but a lot can be won or lost on this show. I don't know y'all (just picked up the y'all in South Carolina, thinkin' about bring it back to the Bay Area) sorry that I'm not as funny right now as I have been in the past, but this stuff is real.

To see more of Scott's thoughtful recap, keep reading.

There's no one who could provide a more entertaining perspective on the all-star season of Top Chef than a former contestant. That's why we've asked Top Chef New York contender (and All-Star!) Fabio Viviani to watch the show and share his thoughts. Fabio, take it away!Let me start by saying that it's a pleasure to share this fun recap with YumSugar, you guys are been very kind to me and not only I like your site very much but I also love you to pieces!

As soon as the episode start I already witness something that pissed me off: Richard telling everybody how much the departure of Dale Talde make him sad is the only departure that make him very sad! Richie, WTF? I thought we had something. I thought that since I dropped Stefan now you were my lover, and instead of telling everyone how much you miss me all I hear is that you will only miss Dale? Fine, Professor. Forget about that I was your real love on the show, forget that we were roommate for almost five weeks while Dale was sleeping with "Angela" and "The Black Italian" Tre . . . forget about the fact that I made you win Restaurant War . . . forget about the fact that I carried you throughout the Italian challenge . . . forget about the fact that I got kicked off cause someone that knows how to make great Boo-Ger didn't helped too much, forget about that I was the one that prepped the food for you and sent you to the Barbados, let's forget all this, go with Dale and be happy with him. BTW, he has a girlfriend. Hope you like to share.

To find out what he thought of the episode's outcome, keep reading.

Here to recap last night's Top Chef All-Stars is the always awesome TC Chicago cheftestant Jen Biesty. Take it away Jen!

Blooowing UP and hitting The Buitoni Target is where it's AT!

What is more popular than cookies and Cookie Monster? Well, my niece will argue it is Elmo — and we got both last night on Top Chef All-Stars for none other than a COOKIE Challenge.

Dale is so ready to dis on Mike Isabella for being a chubby. Yo Dale, I love ya, but you too have been eating some dozen or so cookies by the looks of you!

OK cute challenge: too cute.

To find out what Jen thought of the elimination, keep reading.

The always entertaining Stefan Richter is back! Here are his thoughts on this week's Top Chef All-Stars. Take it away chef!

Hello Everybody: This will be short and sweet. Before I start blogging I have to say I love Tabatha Salon Takeovers; she makes me laugh a lot and she hates to be called sweetheart. So do I.

Three-day trip to Napa? Really? That's something new. Fondue. I make fondue in my restaurants sometimes. Dale funny guy, PHOONDUE, love it, he has gone from child to grown up. Ohhh pobresito: Angelo making things that are too complicated (that's something new). Blais, I know you hitting on my man, but great idea, I like it. I will put that on my menu next week. Goat cheese, barf hate it, can't stand goat cheese. Carla screwed up, it's very funky looking. Antonia is ratting on Mike Isabella. It is down to the wire. They all look tired and over it.

Keep reading what Stefan has to say after the jump.

Colleen Reilly and Stephania Stanley, hosts of Thursday Night Dinners, first connected with CasaSugar readers when they shared advice on hosting weekly get-togethers at your home. Now they're back with two ideas for making the most of Super Bowl Sunday. Here's their first party idea.

Whatever your feelings are about football, if nothing else, Super Bowl Sunday is always a terrific excuse to have your friends over and to indulge in some yummy grub. Thursday Night Dinner is all about picking a day a week to hang with your ladies over good food and fun crafts; so make Sunday your day to hang this week — throw a ladies’ day, and invite your best friends over for some feasting and football.

Just like your Thursday night dinners, keep your Super Bowl Sunday party low-key, so you can just have fun and not stress about party planning. Keep the decor simple — place some tall glass vases throughout your house filled with tall grasses and yellow calla lilies (this way you can be team neutral since both the Packers and the Steelers have gold as a color).

Keep reading for more ideas!

For the all-star season of Top Chef, we have a special person recapping the show: previous Top Chef participant Stefan Richter! Here are his thoughts on last night's episode.

BLOGGING TOP CHEF ALL-STARS AGAIN, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT????

OK here we go again: First off, Jamie, my girl, is gone, that kind of sucks because since she is back on All-Stars my scallop sales went through the roof! Damn. Actually, it is not that bad, because she kind of screwed up in the last few episodes and she is, after all, my competition next door. I don't even remember who was the second person who got kicked off with her? I think I'm having a moment of dementia.

I have a question for all the readers: What bugs you the most about the judges? I tell you what bugs me the most — and it has for seven seasons and my personal past for more then 12 years in America. Judges, please eat with fork and knife! Geeze, God gave you two hands, use them. (I'm not a bible pusher.) There is nothing more anti-sexy than shoving your food in your mouth with only a fork. Then even using the fork on the wrong hand or use your fingers to get it on the fork. UGH. It is like watching Top Chef without sound, making Goulash without bay leaf and red wine, or going surfing in Finland without a wetsuit.

For more of Stefan's take on Top Chef, keep on reading.

Ryan Scott is back! Here, you can find out what he thought of last night's restaurant wars on Top Chef All-Stars.

Restaurant wars huh . . . this episode is most likely going to rock the excitement boat.

Richard Blais's banana and Nutella snack at the house looks like one of the most appetizing pairings on the show so far. If only he smeared it on a rice cake and topped it with Lay's potato chips.

Wow! A competition at Le Bernardin presents quite the challenge. I had an opportunity to stage there and let me tell you, that kitchen is no joke. The wall in the corner of Le Bernardin became my best friend I was so nervous just being in the presence of that kitchen staff. Watching Gusto rapidly separate the fish is a work of art. He's a total rock star and I want him in my kitchen. Well wishful thinking at the least.

Read more of Ryan's hilarious take on the elimination challenge after the jump.

Here to recap last night's Top Chef All-Stars is the lovely TC Chicago cheftestant Jen Biesty. Find out what she thought of the seafood showdown and double elimination below.

It's so great to see my season 4 pals back on All-Stars! I have to say, I was a bit jealous when All-Stars was announced, but after watching Elia get kicked off I realized once was enough for me!

Wow, Marcel really needs to lay off the Bombay, does he want his head shaved by Dale this time?

FISHING!!!!! This has got to be every chef's dream — ocean to table, it can't get better than that. Awesome challenge, Bravo!

To see Jen's feelings on Angelo, dying at sea, and Padma's outfit, keep reading.

For the all-star season of Top Chef, we have a special person recapping the show: previous Top Chef participant Stefan Richter! Here are his thoughts on last night's episode.Blogging Top Chef All-Stars, can you believe it? Me, the Euro who can't spell for sh*t. Anyway, here it goes! The last few episodes were pretty dull and to see my paisano Fabio getting nailed to the board, like I nailed the eel in my season . . . SNAP! Animal inside out — doesn't most Italian food look like that anyways, besides pizza? That comment will not get me any Italian friends, but who cares?

For more of Stefan's take on Top Chef, keep on reading.

For the all-star season of Top Chef, we have a special person recapping the show. Previous Top Chef participant Ryan Scott! Here are his thoughts on last night's episode.A stuffing quickfire challenge? Ask family, friends, and clients: I could stuff every one of the contestants on this one. In fact, I've got some in the fridge right now. Lots of inventiveness in this challenge. Carla turned into cave woman, and I'm proud of Fabio using his noggin to grate the cheese on the shelving. I can see it now: Fabio will be the new spokesperson for retro racks at Walmart. Way to go, Tre . . . so much for me getting signed for Swanson's spokesperson again. 

For more of Ryan's take on Top Chef, keep reading.

For the all-star season of Top Chef, we have a special person recapping the show. Previous Top Chef participant Ryan Scott! Here are his thoughts on last night's episode.WOW! Before I start, talk about some Top Chef news this week! Congrats to Harold on his glowing review from the New York Times. That's a tremendous honor, especially in NYC where the critics are very . . . critical. Second of all, I would like to congratulate Ilan and Ayame on their newborn baby. Lastly, Spike, happy birthday, my brother, from season four. Congrats on all of your success and kudos to many more on the horizon!

OK! Let's get down with last night's episode. HOLY CRAP!!!! David Chang. If you don't know who this cat is, you have been living under one of Hoss Zaré's 10 lb meatballs at Zare at Fly Trap. I have to say though that last night's episode seemed to be the least stimulating thus far. However, Dale T's comment about his fat hands did get my attention.

What a tricky quickfire: I am amped that my boy Richard won. You go buddy! Let's admit it; he was clearly slided in the first week's episode with his disqualification. I think he has the most promising chance of taking home the trophy.

For more of Ryan's take on Top Chef, keep reading.