Tag: meal

In the mad rush of jobs, school work, social obligations, and sports teams, quality time as a family seems harder to come by than ever before. If I want more time to just be "mom" and enjoy my kids, I need to put as much planning into it as I do every other area of our lives.

Here are some of my favorite ways to create space to simply enjoy each other and strengthen our bonds as a family unit—and summer is a great time to implement new routines and rituals without the pressure of school and strict schedules.

Everyone loves pasta, but during hot summer days a bowl of steaming pasta doesn't sound that appealing.

Some people make cold macaroni salads, but I think pasta is not meant to be eaten cold and besides, those macaroni salads usually have mayonnaise in them and fill you up too much. The Italians have an ideal solution. Basically it's a dish of hot pasta that cools down by virtue of being tossed with uncooked ingredients. They call it a salsa cruda. This is a raw sauce used with pasta. It's quite popular during a hot summer.

Easter Sunday dinner is a time for family and friends to gather and enjoy a special meal together. If you are hosting this meal at your home, you are probably focused on making sure that the foods you cook and bake will be items that everyone will enjoy. But, you also need to remember many details beyond the food to truly be a hospitable host.

In addition to preparing a delicious meal, it’s also good to know how to properly set the table and prepare a comfortable atmosphere for your guests. Here are some etiquette guidelines to follow.

Of all the gift ideas on your list this year, the one that's sure to be both appreciated and returned to you is attention. Especially during the holiday season, it's easy to get distracted by things that don't really matter. As you spend time with loved ones and cherished friends, make the most of it by being present.

It is easy to have a family meltdown and we all know family fights can get intense during the holidays when there is unresolved conflict. When family members are fighting, the root cause is that they aren’t listening.