The #1 Trick For Your Best Batch of Puppy Chow + My Top 5 N/A Drinks For Summer
Plus discover the best hotel, grilled cheese recipe and Des Moines restaurant for your zodiac sign, the ultimate way to reheat pizza and so much more.
And just like that, we’ve almost made it to May!
I’m a little biased since I was born right at the start of Gemini season, but I happen to think that this time of year is a particularly beautiful one. April has been travel-free for me as I gear up for an action-packed rest of 2025. Between the April showers, I’ve been getting out for plenty of flower-lined walk-and-talks, rejuvenating social outings around Central Iowa (including with my college advisor at WineStyles Ankeny, where you can spot the mural below) and enjoyed my first patio date with a pal.
While I’ve been delighting in the dedicated work time at home and have loved attending a couple inspiring galas to support impactful causes this month (the perfect excuse to break out my “spirit skirt” 💖), I also have this lingering feeling that I should be packing for something. Adventure—and stories—are out there! Turns out, it’s almost time. 🥳
Some of these are subject to change, but as of now I’m looking forward to taking you along with me to these locations later this year. If you’re interested in following along with the action in real time, come join me on Instagram!
May: Indianapolis and Kentucky
June: Oregon and Denver
July: Florida and St. Louis
August: Santa Cruz
September: Spain
October: Charleston and San Jose
November: Columbus and Mexico
I’d love to know in the comments: What work trip, vacation or staycation are you looking forward to in 2025? Whether it involves tackling a puzzle at your dining room table, forging new territory on a road trip or jetting off over an ocean, I’d love to hear about it!
What to Read…
The warmer weather lately is perfectly on cue with the evolution of my story assignments, a handful of which include previews and predictions about summer food and drink trends. Folks on social media can’t stop talking about Hillstone’s “Crisp Martini,” which, as you’ll learn in the first Allrecipes story below, isn’t a martini at all. It is quite refreshing, though, and is an easy-to-make (and easy-to-adore) option for those who are into wine-based cocktails!
In this week’s collection of 17 new stories, you can also find out why cherry is shaping up to be a big summer flavor. Regardless of the time of year, zodiac-style stories always seem to be a hit, so I spoke to astrology experts to help you find your perfect pairing in a wide range of categories: hotels, Des Moines restaurants, and easy grilled cheese recipes.
If you’re craving something sweet, I highly recommend trying my trick to take your next batch of puppy chow to the next level: pop it in the freezer! In one of my latest Better Homes and Gardens stories, I explain a couple reasons why I swear by this strategy. (You can use it with your family’s recipe if you have one you swear by, or try it with our Test Kitchen’s foolproof 15-minute formula.)
Allrecipes: The 4-Ingredient Cocktail I’ll be Sipping All Summer
Allrecipes: Ina Garten Upgraded Her Mom's Only Yummy Recipe—and I'm an Instant Fan
Allrecipes: The Dessert That Brought Julia Child to Tears on Live Television
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs for the Best Pasta Brand, and Their Top Pick Shocked Me
Allrecipes: I Asked 6 Chefs for the Best Fast Food Fried Chicken, and This Classic Won by a Landslide
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs How They Cook Frozen Pizza and I'll Never Make It the Same Way Again
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs the Best Way to Reheat Pizza, and They All Swear By This Technique
CNN: Think You Can’t Make Delicious Tofu Recipes at Home? These 4 Easy Tips Will Convince You Otherwise
dsm Magazine: Greatest Hits: Summer Food in Central Iowa
dsm Magazine: Zodiac Bites: Your Sign’s Perfect Restaurant Match
Peloton: 7 Reasons Why You May Feel Extra Hungry After a Workout
Organic Valley: Astrologers Determine Best Grilled Cheese for Your Zodiac Sign
Better Homes and Gardens: We’re Calling It: Cherry Is the Flavor of Summer
Better Homes and Gardens: I Asked 5 Experts How to Make the Best Guacamole
Better Homes and Gardens: I Tried John Legend's Mac and Cheese Recipe, and Was Blown Away
Better Homes and Gardens: I'm an Iowan, and This Is My 1 Secret for the Best Puppy Chow
Better Homes and Gardens: Missing 'White Lotus?' Book (or Just Swoon Over) the Best Hotel for Your Zodiac Sign
What to Drink…
5 Fantastic N/A Options For Spring and Summer
If the hundreds of PR emails, a series of questions from friends and interviews with 50+ drink pros for an upcoming BHG story are any indication, the supply and demand for beyond-water non-alcoholic drinks is getting stronger by the month. In a quest to stay well-hydrated and informed, I’ve been sampling plenty of new options—and also find myself gravitating back to a couple reigning MVPs of the N/A beverage world.
In case you’re seeking new options to stock your fridge, I highly recommend these alternatives.
Ghia Le Fizz: For fans of Aperol Spritzes, this sweet-tart bubbly blend features strawberry, black currant and lemon juice as well as chamomile, Jasmine green and Lapsang Souchong Teas. A few extracts, including orange blossom, join the party for a complex and beautifully balanced drink with just 5 grams of added sugars and 25 calories per serving. Enjoy over ice and with an orange slice or wedge for an experience that might just inspire you to let your Aperol bottle get a bit dusty.
Spindrift Pineapple: This fruit juice-infused sparkling water brand currently has 19 flavor varieties, and that’s not including Spindrift’s new soda and spiked lines. After trying nearly all of the original sparkling waters, I find myself reaching for this refreshing and tropical rendition again and again. If pineapple High Noon, Truly or White Claw is your go-to at outdoor concerts and festivals, try this. Since it’s made with carbonated water, pineapple juice, and citric acid (and nothing else), it lands as remarkably fresh—and not overpowering or artificial-tasting.
La Croix Sunshine: Described by the brand as “a bright and sparkling blend of citrus and tropical zest,” I couldn’t quite place the exact flavor of this brand-new La Croix when I tried it for the first time last week. Light tangerine notes with a hint of floral was the best I could come up with—until my friend and spirit-free drink expert Jessica Furniss nailed it by telling me “it reminds me of a Push Pop with elevated floral flavors.” Regardless of what Sunshine was actually designed to taste like, it tastes great…and I would love for you to try it and report back!
Sayso Spicy Margarita: If you’ve been hanging around here for a bit, you might recall a Sayso shout-out in a February edition of What’s Good. I’m still savoring my way through the steepable drink selection, and can confirm that the Spicy Margarita version is my favorite. Each single-serving sachet contains zero tequila or mezcal (although you could add some if you like). Instead, it stars crystallized lime, orange peel, jalapeño, ginger and smoked salt. Place the sachet in 4 ounces of cold water for 3 to 5 minutes, add ice and pair with chips and salsa, or simply a sunny patio.
Topo Chico Mineral Water: No guide to summer sips would be complete without my all-time favorite bubbly water, Topo Chico. Something about the aggressive bubbles and the faint salty flavor (courtesy of the minerals) makes this the ultimate refresher, in my opinion. The classic is fantastic, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the Twist of Lime or Twist of Grapefruit bottles either.
One Good Thing to Go…
For a quick and easy protein boost , try one of my latest cottage cheese creations: In a food processor, combine 1 ½ cups cottage cheese with 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard and 1 ½ tablespoons everything bagel seasoning. Mix until smooth, top with another ½ tablespoon everything bagel seasoning and enjoy with veggie sticks, crackers, as a bed for roasted vegetables, as a condiment in a grain bowl, or as a spread on a sandwich, bagel, or toast.