food and parties

Patty-cake, patty-cake! We're not talking about sweet cakes here, but the juicy patties that come fresh off the grill onto a waiting bun. With this being National Burger Month, and the unofficial start of grilling season kicking off this weekend, we turned to some of our favorite kiddie chefs for their takes on the ever-popular burger. With input from Weelicious, Jessica Seinfeld, Annabel Karmel, and Cooking With My Kid, here are 18 recipes to try with your tots during the Summer grilling season!

We see a lot of adventurous birthday party themes for little boys, but who says girls can't also get in on the action? For little Reese's first birthday bash, her parents decided a safari theme was the only way to go.

"Reese's first birthday was a very special day," says Lisa Hanson of A Little Savvy Event, the party planners hired to execute the kiddie event. "The safari party inspiration came from the birthday girl herself. Reese loves animals, so her parents wanted to incorporate fun, live animals into her celebration.

"Being that Reese is very girlie, the color scheme was pink leopard print," Lisa continues. "The children had bean bags to play on, a binocular-making station, different food stations, and a dessert station featuring safari animal cookies. But the greatest activity of the day had to be the live safari animals. Reese loved seeing the snakes and baby alligators, and it added an unexpected and lively aspect to the day." Keep clicking to see all the sweet safari details!

Organic is healthier, right? That's why you and your kids should be eating organic. But is it really worth the added cost to feed your family organically? Though a study out last Fall suggested that, kids might not be healthier due to an organic diet one of the key doctors of the study, Dr. Joel Forman of the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center is convinced that developing brains are vulnerable to chemical exposure, and that eating organically can reduce their risk of coming in contact with pesticides.

I was lucky enough to hear Dr. Forman speak about the benefits of organic eating at the Mount Sinai Greening Our Children luncheon this week (I was a guest of The Honest Company, as Jessica Alba was being honored with the organization's Champion for Children Award). His reasoning, and easy tips for doing so, were enough to make me change my shopping habits. Keep reading for five reasons to ditch pesticide-ridden food and seven steps you can take to make healthier shopping choices.

Figuring out what to bring to a potluck with kids can be difficult. Not only are kids notoriously picky eaters, but potluck food needs to be able to sit out for several hours and still manage to taste good. So we asked the best potluck experts we know — moms — what their favorite go-to potluck dish is, and rounded up 12 of our favorites. From healthy slaw and tasty pastas to mouthwatering chocolate chip cookies, you'll definitely want to keep these easy potluck recipes on hand.

Inspired by the occasion of their dad's fiftieth birthday, Mario Batali's teenage sons, Benno and Leo, developed their very own cookbook in his honor, and it's recently been published. The Batali Brothers Cookbook is a compilation of Leo and Benno's favorite recipes, plus some Batali family staples courtesy of Mario himself. We were lucky enough to chat with the brothers, who we were pleased to learn are following fast in their dad's orange-Croc-clad footsteps. Click through to read our interview with Leo and Benno Batali, and check out two of their favorite recipes to try out in your own kitchen!

Once your brave little one is ready to take the leap from purees to finger foods, it's time to switch up your grocery store and kitchen prep routines. Follow this smart advice for easing the transition, and click through to see some of the best fresh, frozen, and on-the-go solid starter foods for your hungry little one!

What do you get when you put together an event planner mama (Angel Swanson of Love & Splendor), the Korean tradition of a Dol (an over-the-top first birthday celebration), and a whimsical under-the-sea party theme? Party perfection! This party, thrown for little Olive, has something for everyone: a baby lounge, kid-friendly entertainment, including an amazing bubble show, plenty of sweet treats, and gorgeous decor in shades of mint and pink. "Our original venue was by the sea, so we had adopted an ocean-inspired palette," Angel says. "We later moved the party to an inland location, but we kept the soothing hues of aqua, pool, and mint with hints of blush, peach, and gold accents. It was a feminine, Spring-y color scheme that felt perfect for the celebration." You have to check out all the details, beautifully photographed by Erin Hearts Court, of this dreamy party!

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and whatever your weekend plans entail, we can't think of a better way to celebrate than with a special sweet treat. Whether you prefer a classic patriotic theme or want to get inventive with cupcakes that look like they just came off the grill, stock up on some sugar, heat up the oven, and get baking!

School is wrapping up (have you picked up your teacher appreciation gift yet?), Summer is unofficially starting, and the time for cool Popsicles is near! Whether you're set to stock your freezer with store-bought pops or want to make your own — check back soon for our awesome and easy kid-friendly recipes — you can prep for Popsicle season with the following nine printables, party extras, and kid-friendly goods, all featuring Summer's favorite frozen treat!