Potlucks have been a fun, intimate way for people to share a meal for centuries. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the term was in 1592 and meant guests were invited to eat, but the host wasn’t responsible for the contents of the pot (pot + luck). Nowadays, you don’t have to worry about what’s in the stew. Today’s potlucks allow you to entertain friends without the expense or time commitment of a full-blown party.
Does it feel like you live in the car shuffling kids from play practice to sporting event to sleepover? With all this shuffling, what’s happened to your family meal table? That’s exactly the question Melodie M. Davis asks in her book, Whatever Happened to Dinner? Recipes and Reflections for Family Mealtime. In her study of the evolution of family mealtime, she discovers that it changes with our changing culture; but despite the changing culture, we as parents must keep mealtime as glue for holding the family together and a center point in our lives.
Summer camp doesn’t last forever, but you can always bring home the taste of rustic, outdoor cooking. These two easy recipes remind us of the flavors of camp cooking, but with the fire pit replaced by the convenience of a gas grill. Remind the kids of their time spent around a campfire or in the dining hall, sharing stories of the day’s adventures while eating comfort food with friends.
You’ve probably seen your share of restaurant disasters in which babies, toddlers and older children are too noisy, too messy and rude. You might have wondered why those people were allowed to remain on the premises to ruin another family’s nice, quiet meal. Now, fast-forward to the next time you have your children in tow and want to have a meal out. Certainly a well-meaning person like you won’t fall prey to the ‘Annoying Others’ syndrome.
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
