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?

For those of us who regularly enjoy smoothies, 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?

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. Killer sandwich combinations. Or a new favorite smoothie concoctions. Whatever you have that doesn’t require massive amounts of heat, share with us below!

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 us:

Do you have any tips for freezer-friendly meals?

Any go-to recipes that are freezer-friendly? Tips and things to avoid when freezing food? Storage ideas? Favorite freezer-safe containers?

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!

Today’s topic comes from Jean, and she wants to know:

Do you have any summer grilling ideas?

I want to know, too. Now that summer is just around the corner, I’m looking forward to the prospect of eating outside, surrounded by the smell of meat (or vegetables) charring and the sound of drippings sizzling on hot coals. And though burgers and hotdogs are usual summer grilling fare, I know you all have creative ideas and lovely recipes to share.

Ah, the irresistible avocado. If the avocado’s sole purpose in life was to bring guacamole into this world, that would be enough for me. But no. At some point in time, someone discovered that avocados taste great in sushi rolls, too. And ice cream. On toast. In smoothies. Baked goods. Sandwiches. Salads. I think it […]