Hooray for seasonal peaches! Like strawberries and blueberries, peaches are wonderfully sweeter and more affordable right now...I love when they become abundant at the market! Peaches are in season in Massachusetts mid-July to mid-September and this week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 12 recipes that will allow you to incorporate this tasty stone fruit all the way from breakfast to dinner to condiments.

1. Start your day right with this peach blueberry oatmeal smoothie.

2. The flavors of summer shine in this kale salad with peaches, corn and basil-honey vinaigrette.

3. Amazing peach salad with tomatoes and beets.

4. Peaches are a sweet surprise in this healthy quinoa with vegetables.

5. Jazz up your next barbecue with these sriracha glazed chicken skewers with peaches.

6. Quick and easy grilled peaches are a perfect sweet side dish.

7. See you tomatoes, there’s a new peach ketchup in town.

8. Store your bounty with this easy peach freezer jam.

9. Take comfort in this peach and raspberry cobbler.

10. Oh how refreshing these vanilla peach pops would be!

11. Sweet and fruity ginger-peach pound cake with caramelized peaches.

12. A gorgeous gluten-free peach plum raspberry tart.

Image credits: peaches via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

I find that green vegetables especially improve in flavor when they come in season and green beans are no exception. Green beans are in season in Massachusetts July and August and this week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 8 tasty ways to incorporate green beans into your meals, in some instances thinking outside the box -- even for breakfast and as a tart!.

1. These garlicky beet green and green bean egg sandwiches offer a new approach to breakfast or a light dinner.

2. A fresh and easy balsamic green bean salad.

3. A perfectly seasonal green bean summer salad.

4. Your kids will love munching on these crispy baked parmesan green bean “fries”.

5. Whoa. Bacon wrapped green beans.

6. Lighten up traditional green bean casserole with this dijon haricot vert recipe.

7. This green bean mushroom tart would be good vegetarian dinner fare.

8. Green beans, potatoes, and spinach in coconut curry = yum.

Image credits: green beans via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

As with strawberries, I love when blueberries come into season -- they're sweeter, more affordable, and I love watching Laurel and Vi gobble up all those nutrients. It's National Blueberry Month and blueberries are in season in Massachusetts July and August -- hooray! This week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 10 tasty ways you can incorporate seasonal blueberries into your day, all the way from breakfast to dinner.

1. This gluten-free breakfast cake is a yummy way to start the day.

2. Adorn your pancakes (or, er, ice cream) with this homemade blueberry sauce.

3. These frozen yogurt covered blueberries are the perfect summer snack.

4. Give your appetizer lineup a fresh twist with these blueberry almond crostinis.

5. Bust out your crockpot for these blueberry glazed crock pot ribs.

6. Grilled blueberry pizza makes the perfect quick dinner.

7. This blueberry lime salsa? So clever.

8. Tough to go wrong with a classic blueberry cobbler.

9. Slicing and serving dessert is a breeze with these blueberry pie bars.

10. Invite blueberries to cocktail hour with this blueberry mojito recipe.

Image credits: blueberries via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

Following my tips about booking a camping trip + gear essentials, the final post I wanted to share about camping is about tips for the camping trip itself. But quickly, before I do that I wanted to share a recommendation from Kris-Ann. Kris-Ann's family participated in a Become an Outdoors Family Camping Workshop last year, which included lessons on how to start a campfire and how to set up your tent, as well as other activities. So cool!

Now, here are 8 tips for camping with kids. Feel free to add any others in the comments below!

1. Give your kids jobs. Giving kids jobs will make them feel that they are part of the team, and also helps kids really experience what camping is all about. Kids can help gather kindling, set up the tent, arrange items inside the tent, etc. Laurel and Vi were really helpful with both setup and breakdown!

2. Go over ground rules. We didn’t have a ton of rules, per se, but remember that kids will not necessarily have the same context as you do for experiences like this. Our main issues were to talk to them about fire safety, water sources, and trash/food cleanup.

3. Explore the grounds. Laurel and Violet are 6.5 years apart so obviously, their physical abilities are very different. If we had stayed two nights I think Jon and I would have probably split up, with one of us taking Laurel on a longer hike and one of us taking Vi on a short hike or to scrabble around the woods. But a simple exploration of the grounds -- walking to the beach, climbing rocks, finding the general store -- all made for good adventures.

4. Go device free. Seriously, you’re in the woods -- enjoy unplugging your family! I loved kicking back and relaxing with the girls amidst a pile of books and magazines. They never once asked, “Where’s the kindle?”

5. Enjoy the slowness. One of my favorite things about camping is that it really strips life to the basics; it’s wonderfully slow and simple and I suggest enjoying the slowness! My friend Charles referred to this as “saving the time to breathe.” Charles shared: “Sometimes it's tempting to do the hike and the swimming and the campfire social and the kickball game and the boating... Overtired kids don't make good tent mates.” So true!

6. Embrace the small teaching moments. Related to #2 and #5, we found that many of the tasks associated with camping offered an opportunity to teach the girls about something practical in a setting where we had the time to slow down and chat and teach (vs. just doing it ourselves). For example, we taught the girls about building a fire, how to identify poison ivy, interacting (or not interacting) with animals, etc.

7. Collect nighttime needs while it’s still light out. I really didn’t want to be fumbling around in the dark so after dinner I collected and arranged in the tent various things we might need in the middle of the night, such as water bottles for everyone, flashlights, and extra clothes in case of accidents.

8. Keep them up. We put the girls to bed around their usual bedtime and in retrospect, we should have kept them up until it was totally dark and they were really tuckered. What with different surroundings and sounds, the girls had a harder time falling asleep which led to many frequent visits to the tent. Next time we'll keep them up late!

Do you have other tips to share about camping with kids? Feel free to comment below!

Image credits: Christine Koh

Peas. They're nutritious, delicious, colorful, great for snacking (I've been consuming large quantities raw thanks to the heat), easy to grow in a home garden, and -- notably in my book -- one of the few vegetables Violet will eat. Green and snap peas are in season June through September in Masschusetts, and this week's Eat Seasonal feature offers 8 ways to breathe new life into peas, whether as a snack, side, or main dish:

1. Try a fresh take on hummus via this green pea hummus.

2. These roasted sugar snap peas with mint and sea salt look simple and incredible.

3. Quick and healthy green pea fritters.

4. Keep it cool and simple with this crunchy summer salad (you can also use some of your seasonal cucumbers!).

5. Add color and nutrients to store-bought pasta with this ravioli with snap peas and mushrooms.

6. Seared scallops with snap peas and pancetta in 20 minutes = WIN.

7. Love the idea of pairing Korean-style short ribs with snap peas.

8. These pea guacamole and seared halloumi soft tacos? Major wow.

Image credits: peas via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

One of my favorite things about summer is when beets come in season. I know there are some beet haters out there, and if you are in that camp, try fresh local ones -- they are a completely different animal! Beets are in season June through September in Masschusetts, come in a variety of gorgeous colors, and also happen to be super good for you. This week's Eat Seasonal feature offers 8 ways to enjoy beets through the day:

1. Start your day with a nutrient-rich beet smoothie.

2. This yummy beet salad comes via my sister Sharon and it is simply delicious.

3. Want to amp up your protein? Try this roasted beet and lentil salad.

4. This chilled orange beet soup looks so refreshing. I love the addition of egg (very Korean!); and it’s also a great way to use your seasonal cucumbers!

5. I am totally making this beet, arugula, and goat cheese sandwich today. YUM.

6. And maybe I’ll have some beet chips alongside my beet, arugula, and goat cheese sandwich.

7. My mother totally gives me the hairy eyeball whenever I compost produce greens. Here’s a simple recipe for sauteed beet greens.

8. Time to break out the ice cream maker for this 5-ingredient beet sorbet.

Image credits: strawberries via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

We eat strawberries year round, but I'm always thrilled when strawberries come in season; the vibrant, juicy locally grown options are a totally different animal! This week's Eat Seasonal feature on strawberries comes just in time for upcoming strawberry festivals (keep an eye on upcoming Weekend Roundups!), though in Massachusetts, strawberries are in season both in June and also August to mid-October. Here are 8 easy ways you can enjoy them:

1. I love the fresh twist of this strawberry mango salsa.

2. Strawberry ricotta bruschetta makes for a lovely summer app.

3. Five-ingredient strawberry red wine glazed salmon = major dinner win.

4. I made this strawberry cake roll for Jon’s birthday this week -- it's one of our favorite cake recipes!

5. OMG this strawberry pie.

6. I can't wait to try these cantaloupe and strawberry popsicles.

7. Freeze your strawberries first to make this 5-minute strawberry frozen yogurt.

8. If you have a windfall of strawberries, preserve some to cheer you up in the winter via this easy strawberry freezer jam.

Image credits: strawberries via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

Today, Katy shares tips for gardening on a budget:

Flowers and plants offer a visual reward, and my best friend (an organic farmer) posits that there's an alchemy that occurs when your hands touch the soil. I couldn't agree more, whether you have a lush garden (as my mother did) or a tiny suburban handkerchief plot (as I do!). I also happen to have a postage size budget and wanted to share these 9 tips for gardening on a budget:

1. Grow from seed. It's easy to get a lot for a little by growing from seed. When we manage to plan ahead of time, we start in February or March. We've tried morning glories, calendula, zinnias, and marigolds from seed in a condo with very limited space near windows with full sun (morning glories were especially successful!).

2. Use what you've got. If you're planting seeds, use yogurt cups, eggshells, and plastic bottles for growing containers. Kids love to plant seeds and see the results develop on the counter or windowsill. It's very exciting to wake up in the morning and see how much changes overnight, and it gives older kids a special sense of stewardship to watch over "their" babies and help care for them.

3. Consider a seedling/success tradeoff. If growing from seed isn't in the cards, the tradeoff of spending a bit more money on established plants is better odds of success that come with professionally grown seeds.

4. Build your knowledge for free. Don't be intimidated if your gardening experience is limited (or nonexistent!) -- the internet offers plenty of tips and techniques for gardening and plant selection. Local farms offer outreach programs and classes, and garden centers are staffed by seasoned gardeners and scientists happy to share their wisdom. In short, there is a lot of free information out there for gardening newbies and experienced green thumbs alike.

5. Plant easy, prolific perennials. Make the most of your purchases by planting easy, prolific perennials that will come up year after year. I use hardy daylilies, peonies, and hostas to form the budget-friendly, reliable backdrop against which to showcase my annuals.

L to R: perennial peonies planted in 2008, pink rosebush from previous owner, daylilies in bud from previous owner, 2014 pansies, knockout rose (my one splurge from last summer), purple and white pansies all along the edge, and another legacy plant from a previous owner, a pink azalea.

6. Peruse farmers markets. Farmers markets not only offer a great way to eat local on a budget; they also can be a good source for affordable plants. Most farmers markets will have at least one vendor selling plants throughout the season.

7. Connect with your local gardening resources. Find bargains via your local gardening clubs, meetups, and networks. My town gardening club offers plant swaps, so I've been able to divide up my thriving daylilies and trade them in for some great annuals from another gardener.

8. Check out Craigslist and Freecycle. Craigslist and Freecycle aren't just for finding and selling baby gear and furniture. I've found an abundance of free plants through these online services.

9. Let your gardening passion be known! Over time, my friends and family have learned that I love flowers and am trying to limit the acquisition of more stuff, so I get a lot of flowers/plants as gifts. Yay!

Want to see how I've put these tips into action? Here's how my 2014 garden acquisitions broke down:

• 2 morning glories (free, gift!)
• 24 pansies (~$20 on sale, Russo's)
• 6 perennial hostas (free, Craigslist!)
• 12 nasturtiums ($10, Waltham Community Farms seedling sale)
• 2 petunia patio pots (my big splurge; $30 at Russo's)
• Hanging begonia (Mother's Day gift!)
• 3 bags of mulch to slow down the ubiquitous weeds ($10 at Star Market)

2014 total: $70! WOO HOO!

Now, once you've got all of your supplies, there are three other things I recommend. First, map out a simple plan -- on paper, or better yet, by putting pots in the spots where you plan to dig. Second, get a second opinion if you're feeling unsure (I always count on my mom, my other gardening friends, and my neighbors for a second eye when I'm putting in a large perennial). And finally, let go of perfection! I give my little guys a lot of leeway when picking out spots for the annuals. A mistake is generally easy to fix when it comes to plants, and in Massachusetts the growing season is brief; the enjoyment of watching the kids take ownership is just as satisfying as a "perfect" planting.

Do you have other budget-friendly gardening tips? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

Image credits: Katy

During my postdoctoral fellowship, I earned the nickname Kohcumber because I snacked on cucumbers every single day at the lab. For some reason, I fell out of that (excellent) habit, but this week's Eat Seasonal feature on cucumbers is inspiring me to load up my next grocery cart with cukes! Cucumbers are in season in Massachusetts from June through August; here are 9 (actually, 10) great ways you can enjoy them:

1. Cucumber tomato bites = easy yet beautiful appetizer.

2. Korean cucumber salad is always on my mom's dining table!

3. This cucumber watermelon salad looks so refreshing and I love that it includes feta and walnut for salt/crunch contrast.

4. If you're looking for a show stopper, these beetroot and tuna cucumber rolls are gorgeous. The recipe is a little more involved, but I'd cut prep time down by using canned beets, chopped.

5. I love one pot (or one blender) recipes like this chilled cucumber avocado soup.

6. Tzatziki = refreshing condiment that's loaded with protein. Great as a veggie dip or as a condiment for your grilled fare!

7. You only need 4 ingredients for this cucumber basil sorbet. (Perfect excuse to bust out my ice cream maker!)

8. And you only need 3 ingredients for this cucumber lime margarita.

9. I want these 10-minute refrigerator pickles for my next burger.

10. And as an added bonus, if you get tired of eating cucumbers, try one of these 3 DIY cucumber facial masks.

Image credits: cucumber pile via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above