A Slice of Summer

By Andrew Hunter

Fruit’s a big deal in our house. Ben and Nick can eat an astounding amount of strawberries, grapes, mangoes, apples and oranges. But they know that none of it compares to eating a “gynormous” wedge of watermelon on a hot summer afternoon.

The boys have pretty simple expectations … it should be cold, juicy and refreshing. While watermelon is indeed perfect to quench their thirst with its sweet juice, it also has a more complex culinary side. Watermelon is perfect foil for sweet herbs, citrus and even salty cheese. So cut your kids and their friends a wedge as big as their heads and save the rest for a delicious summer salad for your more refined palates.

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Impromptu Date Night

By Andrew Hunter

Ever wish you could have a date night but you don’t have a sitter? We started a new tradition that the boys enjoy as much as we do. It’s a date night for the grown-ups and kids!

All you have to do is ask for two tables separated by a few feet. This way, the kids feel grown up by placing their own orders and talking to the servers, while we enjoy a grown up conversation. It works even better when there’s counter seating, which our boys love!

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Peel ‘n’ Eat

By Andrew Hunter

We discovered something amazing recently that compels the boys to eat foods they would normally shun. It’s both simple and surprising, but if they peel it, they’ll eat it. This miraculous discovery came when we realized they would eat a pound of edamame in one sitting. So we applied the same logic to shrimp and watched with anticipation and voilà!

With summer on the horizon and the sun shining brighter into the evening, we set up shrimp boils on the patio table. The boys peel and eat shrimp, a critter they previously refused. We peel and eat with them together sometimes and other times I peel a bunch for shrimp cocktail, which is one of Marilyn’s favorites.

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Easter Ham

By Andrew Hunter

Easter symbolizes the dawn of spring – the sweetest season of the year. It’s a time when families gather together for a feast. The centerpiece of our feast is always a traditional Easter ham.

Other dishes we like to make are boiled red potatoes, because they look like eggs, tossed in a little butter, salt and dill, and bright green sugar snap peas because they’re the boys’ favorite veggie. Whatever you do though, try to make most of dinner in advance, so you’ll have time to hide colored eggs for the festive hunt.

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A Mexican Breakfast

By Andrew Hunter

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for growing children. In our house, it’s also the primary meal that Marilyn and I prepare together. Our morning routine starts with switching on the coffee pot, then slicing fruit, scrambling eggs and making toast. Breakfast is on the table by the time the first cup of coffee is poured.

We were just in Mexico and were pleased to discover a Mexican breakfast is just like ours, but the fruit was spectacular. It was a tropical combination of papaya, mango, pineapple, watermelon, bananas and grapes served family-style. Because it was locally picked and had never been refrigerated, the perfectly ripe fruit was literally dripping with sweet flavor

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