Daphne Oz shares some of her favorite cooking memories. (Photo by Mike Garten)

At Home with Daphne Oz 

Daphne Oz, “The Chew” co-host and author of “The Happy Cook,” invites us into her New York City home for a dinner party with her besties, Lauren Bush Lauren and Katie Lee. Steal her easy menu and genius hostess hints.

Ask Daphne Oz where she’s the happiest, and her answer comes easily: The kitchen.

“I love the way being in the kitchen makes me feel. Cooking, eating, entertaining — food was always love for me in that way,” she said.

In her newest cookbook, “The Happy Cook,” The New York Times best-selling author shares easy family favorites (her dad is Dr. Oz!) and simple party dishes.

“I like to provide my family [husband John; daughter Philomena, 2; and son John Jr., 1] with really delicious, healthy meals, but I also want to save myself some time. I just aim to do the little things a bit better, which is why the book is full of quick flavor boosters and easy swaps. Eating your own food should always feel like a celebration.”

Family Dinners 

Since she grew up making dinner each evening with her mother, it’s especially important to Daphne that her children pick up her love of cooking — and eating.

“My grandmother taught me not to make dinner a battle of wills — if you’re constantly fighting to get your kids to eat the thing you make, it becomes less about the food and more about them trying to resist you.”

Daphne’s solution? Nightly family dinners.

“My mother and grandmother were my original ‘happy cooks’ — their tables were the ones I felt happiest gathered around, and my parenting has really been formed by that,” she explains. “My husband and I sit the kids down to dinner with the mentality of ‘This is what we’re all eating.’

“I want to cook one meal for all of us and not feel like a short-order cook, so we show them by example what we want them to eat. Our kitchen is where the fun happens, where we all share the end of the day and where they start to feel like grown-ups.”

Hosting Made Simple 

“My entertaining motto is ‘Always be a guest at your own party,’” said Oz. “I really think that’s a huge deal. People take their cues from you — if you’re stressed out and worried about things going right, your guests are going to feel that and be anxious, too. Also, only make recipes you’ve made many times before so you’re guaranteed a success. For dinner parties, I love to serve family style meals — I’ll make a big salad, some crusty bread and butter, and then one main protein dish, like a roast chicken or a whole fish, plus a bunch of veggie sides, where I can go wild with the flavor pairings: Beets and plums with tahini, carrots with capers and mint, spicy string beans, candied squash and yams.”

ON ANOTHER MATTER …  

Halloween Costume Safety 

For the past 15 years, the GH Textiles Lab has vetted kids’ Halloween costumes to make sure they’re not dangerously flammable. This year, our experts flame-tested 175 swatches from a sampling of 2016’s hottest costumes (yes, including Minions and Shopkins) to see how quickly they burned. For a costume to meet federal regulations, the flame must be slow to spread up a 5-inch swath, taking at least 3.5 seconds. We’re happy to report that all the costumes we tested met federal standards. Still, whether you’re buying or DIY-ing, be cautious by following these tips:

Keep it simple: Opt for printed polyester fabric without glittery finishes, which can be flammable.

Keep it short: Long, dangling pieces of fabric on sleeves and capes can easily graze a flame or make little ones trip.

Alter costumes yourself: Cut out any underskirts that feel papery and any sharp embellishments (e.g., gems or brooches) that could poke a child.

TABLE 

Setting the Mood

Daphne Oz shares her favorite dinnertime tunes.

“When I’m cooking, my playlist is full of Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones,” explains Oz. “When guests start to arrive, I typically like to keep things upbeat but mellow: Hot Chip, Chet Faker, Francoise Hardy, Bob Marley — I also love Spotify compilations like Ibiza Chill and Cafe del Mar. I call it ‘boat music’ because it’s relaxing but fun — that’s the vibe a dinner party should have.”

Recalls Alert

The following products and vehicles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise indicated, discontinue use of the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information about the products, call the manufacturer or CPSC’s toll-free hotline, (800) 638-2772. Only some cars or trucks recalled are affected. Contact a dealer for your model to see if it is included in the recall. The dealer will tell you what to do.

PRODUCT/VEHICLE 

PROBLEM 

Buckle Onbu infant carriers, sold online at 5 Minute Recess, Ashley Hesch Bibetts, Lenny Lamb and other online retailers from May 2016 through June 2016 for about $90.

The internal stitching on the infant carrier is missing, posing a fall hazard to children. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled carrier and contact Lenny Lamb to receive a full refund or a free replacement carrier. For information, contact Lenny Lamb toll-free at (877) 487-1416 from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET Monday through Friday; via email

at service@lennylamb.com or online at us.lennylamb.com. Click on “Recalls” for more information.

Hyundai 2013 Elantra

The brake-pedal stopper pad can deteriorate, allowing the brake-light-switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. If the brake-light-switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated, preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of Park without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part for free. The recall is expected to begin on Sept. 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 146.