About Ellen Niz

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As a kid growing up in the Midwest, Ellen loved frequent dinners out with her parents as well as chowing down on Southern comfort food at her grandparents’ homes. Now, she lives in one of the most diverse food capitals of the world, Queens, New York, where everything from Indian dal to Korean kimchee to Colombian arepas is just steps away. Ellen is currently an editor and writer creating content about food, entertaining, home design and decor, parenting, and women’s lifestyle. Her work and her articles have appeared on Today.com, KitchenandBathBusiness.com, HouseBeautiful.com, Parents.com, and more.

A glass bottle filled with maple syrup, as illustration of how to store your maple syrup.

How to Store Your Maple Syrup

If, unlike us, you don’t find yourself going through pure maple syrup at a dizzying rate, then you might be wondering the best way to store it so you don’t waste a single, perfect amber drop.

A scoop of za'atar spice blend on a white background.

What is Za’atar?

Za’atar. It’s seemingly everywhere these days and with darn good reason. In case you’re not in the know, we explain what it is, where it’s from, and how to use it.

A New York–style cheesecake in a springform pan on a wire rack with a dirty bowl, spoon, spatula, and paddle attachment lying beside it.

How to Prevent Cracks in Your Cheesecake

Cracks sometimes happen. And it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have happened this year. We can, however, help you exert some measure of control over the beauty of your cheesecake. Here’s how.