Elena Pons Craig

I’m sharing some of my go-to, the behind-the-scenes tricks we rely on during cookbook shoots and events to keep everything running smoothly. The best part? These hacks aren’t just for photo sets and professional kitchens. They work beautifully at home, too, helping you entertain with less stress and a whole lot more ease. #1 FREEZE AHEAD Puff pastry is a delicious, elegant product that can really be a life saver when it comes to entertaining. It also makes for great make ahead and freeze...

Making soup is such a perfect way to slow down and enjoy adding a little witchcraft to your everyday cooking. Ingredients go into the pot one way, alone and maybe simple, and come out changed, bonded to others, and often elevated. The options are endless, the basics are simple, and the time is fluid. Many come together quickly but the real magic is when you let them simmer. You’ll enjoy the benefits of passive cooking time, the knowledge that dinner (never ending house guest that they are) is...

A LITTLE BACKGROUND Before I get to the epic tale, with its ups and downs, warnings, and eventually happy ending, let me give you a little background. At heart I have always loved rules: processes, catch phrases, figuring out who, what, and why they were made, and of course sometimes whether or not I thought they applied to me! So many, many, many, many, more than 30 years ago when I met my soon-to-be military husband, BOOM! I was introduced to a ton of new rules, processes, acronyms, and...