WINTER in the KITCHEN

To make it easier in the kitchen during the winter months, stick with the tried and true. All it takes is a little advance planning and you can set yourself up for culinary success every time. When the need arises, turn to your collection of easy comfort foods to keep you warm all winter long. Utilize your freezer for frozen produce and herbs from the summer garden, and use them to flavor winter meals. Entertain indoors with bowls of meaty chili sopped up with cornbread, and take a rest from outdoor routines.

(Thoughts taken from a cookbook by Kelsey Banfield)

SUMMER in the KITCHEN

The summer kitchen revolves around the bounty of the garden and the farmers' market. It is time to savor the intense flavors of eating fresh from the stalk and preserving everything you can. Streamline your recipes and keep your cooking simple. Don't worry about complicated recipes or fancy presentations. Take time to enjoy your garden, walk the children through the markets, and craft on the front steps.

(Thoughts taken from a cookbook by Kelsey Banfield)

SPRING in the KITCHEN

When spring starts, clear out the remnants of winter from your kitchen, starting with the refrigerator. Empty out your jars of dribs and drabs of last year's preserves and return the washed jars to the basement (discard any used lids and buy new ones). Replace freezer-aisle produce on your grocery list with fresh and select seedlings from the nursery for your vegetable garden. It is time for meals that highlight fresh flavors and reflect the sunny mood.

(Thoughts taken from a cookbook by Kelsey Banfield)

FEBRUARY is BAKE for FAMILY FUN MONTH

Bake for Family Fun Month was created by the Home Baking Association. The idea is to encourage families to get together, spend time as a family in the kitchen baking and to have fun. Baking is an inexpensive activity that will teach all members of your family important practical skills for life. This event is a fantastic opportunity for families to discover baking traditions, try out new recipes, create memories and explore the fun that baking activities have to offer. There are many activities that families can do together during Bake for Family Fun Month and these may be enjoyed by people from every generation.

It is the ideal time for families to learn the basics of baking, try foods from different cultures, be experimental in the kitchen and reap the rewards of the many educational opportunities that baking offers.

• Find a kid friendly cookbook that your kids will enjoy! One thing my kids really enjoy is looking through a cookbook I had passed onto my daughter's pretend kitchen. It is full of brightly colored and decorated cakes and full of creative things. They love it! (Type in a search for one in the search box below and start hunting for a new or gently used cookbook for your family's collection.)

• Let the kids help you plan a few dinner nights this month! Maybe even let them draw or write up a menu to go with dinner one night.

• Let the kids ACTUALLY help you cook in the kitchen, too! (This one will be a challenge for me!)

• Get together with another family member, like a grandparent, Aunt or cousin and do some cooking together!

• Dress the kids up in an apron and bakers hat and have fun making a video cooking show!