It’s almost officially summer! ‘Tis the season for pool parties, backyard barbecues, camp, and having kids at home with hours of free time at their disposal. What to do with all that time! Or maybe their reading list is 2 pages long, and they’ll need a break now and then from all that summer homework. Whichever the case may be, getting them into the kitchen at a young age isn’t just a lovely way to spend time together, but it also teaches them skills that will serve them well when they’re all grown up and ready to be on their own.

The thing is, kids will be kids. Sometimes they like one thing, and the next moment, they don’t. Sometimes they need no prodding to join you in the kitchen, and sometimes, you have to find creative ways to get them back in there. If you find yourself running out of ideas for fun activities in the kitchen, this week’s Kitchen Talk is for you! We’re asking:

Do you have any fun ways to get the kids in the kitchen?

The photo above is from Natalie, and her lovely daughters have helped her make Customizable Breakfast Bread Bowls and even Ice Cream in a Bag. I love the idea of letting kids assemble stuff, and it’s always a treat to see how proud they are of their creations.

How about you? Do you have any favorite kid-friendly kitchen activities? Come share them below! Then maybe—just maybe—they’ll eventually take over the kitchen and we can all retire to a life of spa treatments and Downton Abbey marathons. (A girl can dream, can’t she?)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

 

Smoothies are a great breakfast (or snack) option any time of the year, but especially in the summer when everyone’s home in the morning and you just want something cool and refreshing—and nutritious—to start off your day. The fact that it takes just minutes to throw together is a nice bonus, too.

For those of us who regularly enjoy smoothies though, it’s easy to get into a rut and make the same smoothies over and over again. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but if you’re like me, you’re ready for new ideas. So tell us:

What are your favorite smoothie tips or recipes?

I’ll start us off. I love adding a tablespoon or so of almond butter to my smoothies to add a nice and rich nutty flavor. When I need a boost of sweetness, I throw in one or two dates. And any bruised or nearly-overripe fruit gets washed, cut up, and thrown into the freezer for my smoothie stash.

How about you? Any tips or tricks for smoothie-making? Secret ingredients? Or if you have favorite recipes, shout them out below and let’s expand our smoothie repertoire!

 

I know summer isn’t officially here yet but I think the sun and the grass and the warm air outside didn’t get that memo. So the temperature continues to rise, the sun continues to shine a bit more intensely, and when that happens, the last thing I want to do is fire up the stove or oven and add to the ambient heat in the house.

Today’s Kitchen Talk is all churning out great meals and snacks while still keeping our homes nice and cool, and ourselves sane. So tell us:

Do you have any favorite no-cook or no-bake summer recipes?

Maybe you have a favorite main dish salad that requires no (or very minimal) cooking. Great chilled dessert ideas (like Ree’s Raspberry Cream Pie above). Killer sandwich combinations. Or a new favorite smoothie concoction. Whatever you have that doesn’t require massive amounts of heat, share with us below—and include a link if you have one!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

 

When you cook almost every meal at home, it's hard to keep things spotless. Gunkless. Splatter-free. We'd love to know how it's done, so tell us:

Do you have any stove or hood cleaning tips?

Any suggestions for getting them clean---or keeping them clean? Come share your tried and tested tips below and let's brainstorm together!

I've always been envious of those who have backup meals neatly stashed away in their freezer, always ready to whip something out at a moment's notice. Those in the know have tricks up their sleeve and you can't even tell the food was made ahead and cooked from frozen. Me, I'm not in the know. And that's why I'm excited about today's Kitchen Talk topic! Tell…

Tell us:

How do you keep your knives sharp?

Do you have any knife sharpening suggestions? Things to avoid? Knife storage tips? Or even favorite knives that have served you well throughout the years? Tell us about keeping knives sharp and working the way they were meant to work. We need to do all we can to save our fingers, man!