May is National Family Day!!!

May is National Family Month - a great time to celebrate the importance of family and an opportunity to spend time together.
As you can imagine, one of my family's favorite ways to spend time together is at the dinner table. In fact, some days, it's the only time we spend together. This is the perfect time of day to catch up with each other.
There are many other things you can do together beyond just sitting around the dinner table. Here are some of my favorite activities to do together in honor of National Family Month.

After dinner walks - There is nothing better on a nice warm evening than an after dinner walk. Either we all walk or the kids take their bikes and we usually end up a nearby park.

Farmer's Market - I love this time of year when the market's begin to open. It's a great way to teach your kids about different produce and eating locally.
Eating Outdoors or a Picnic - Whether you are going to a park and spreading out a blanket or moving dinner to the patio, eating outside makes for a great family evening.

It takes a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy family time together. Many of us are always in a hurry or rushing from one thing to the next, but this month make an effort to spend time as a family.

Happy Cooking!

The Dish On...

Packing a Picnic

I love nothing more than a picnic. Here are a few tips as we head into picnic season!

Keep picnic items ready and available. Have your bags packed and it won't seem like such an undertaking. Grab an old blanket and a large bag. Add paper plates, napkins, plastic silverware and a cheap table cloth (for park tables) to this bag. You might also want to add a corkscrew, cups, a trash bag and a frisbee. Put it somewhere accessible and together with your blanket. You are already half way there.

All that is left is the food. That's the easy part. Think of it as you do your children's lunch box. You need sandwiches, a fruit or vegetable, a sweet treat and a drink. Peanut butter and jelly or honey are great for sandwiches because they won't spoil in the sun. Spread peanut butter on both sides of bread to avoid jelly seeping through. Throw grapes or apple slices in a large ziplock bag. Fill your water bottles with ice and water. The sweet treat is optional, but I normally keep cookies (that don't melt) or little cakes on hand for this reason. Chips are great too. Don't make it harder than it has to be. Remember, it's the picnic that your kids will remember, not the food you ate.

It's that simple. If you are going to be out in the sun for a while before you eat, toss everything in a cooler. Picnics are so fun and should be incorporated into your summer festivities as often as possible.

On The Menu This Week