I write regularly for Momtastic and was so excited to work with them on this cool campaign called Let’s Get Her to Camp which is being run by Nestlé Crunch in conjunction with the Girl Scouts. As a former Girl Scout I am a huge advocate of camping and wilderness skills for girls. I also believe girls benefit from a little time away in the summer when it is age appropriate. Check out all the cool information about this campaign and maybe you can find ways to participate in it in your area! Read More…

We had the most delicious Fourth of July in Cooperstown this year. Here are some fun photos I took on instagram if you’d like to see:

On the Fourth we rode in my Dad’s Model A Ford in the 100th Springfield Center Fourth of July Parade. There is no hard proof but we’ve been told it is one of the oldest parades in the country. My daughter and her friend threw lots of candy out the window. It is always a little bit of struggle to remind them to throw it. They’d rather keep it all to eat themselves!

Here is the thing about watermelon salad, I never make it the same way twice. But, it always tastes great no matter what I through at it. Today I thought I’d share a few different variations for how you can make it at home. And, please, share your additions and tell us how you do it!

This Watermelon-Goat Cheese-Basil salad is such a fave. It will even be in my next book!

Our summer schedule is pretty hectic these days. Between camps, visiting grandparents, and just general fun, I haven’t been in the kitchen for long stretches. To make the short bursts of time I have to cook worth it I’ve been focusing on lots of no-cook recipes that are quick to assemble. This chilled white gazpacho has quickly become a favorite of ours. It is wholly satisfying and a snap to pull together.

As we gear up for the Fourth of July weekend, I am writing up my final list of easy entertaining recipes. For the main courses, we’ll be grilling our favorites like chicken skewers and hot dogs. We might even grill up some vegetables. On the side, I plan to whip up a few of these easy and delicious caprese-style cheese tartines. I use delicious Arla Dofino Creamy Havarti cheese, slices of the fresh beefsteak tomatoes we’ve started finding in our local markets and basil snipped from the garden.

I’ll admit, the only time I eat strawberry ice cream is in the summer. I like it to have loads of real fresh fruit, and that means using strawberries that are truly fresh and red to the core. I’ve tried many great ice cream recipes in the past but this one really takes the cake when it comes to strawberry ice cream. It is sweet, but not too heavy, with loads of fresh strawberry flavor. It doesn’t get too hard when it freezes which makes it perfect for scooping into a circle on top of cones, or add on top of a cake or pie. Best of all, it is easy to make! I am so glad my friend Megan featured it – she is, as we all know, a culinary ice cream genius. Haha! Here’s how you can make it too: