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Dear Teachers

Dear Teachers

A Truly Memorable Summer Menu

(Family Features) Summer days are often spent with family and friends, soaking in the sun’s rays and enjoying outdoor living with warm weather activities. Complement this year’s summertime excitement with food that matches your enthusiasm for the season.

Your menu can start with a fruity dip and a salad before diving into steak for the main course and a kid-friendly treat to top it all off. These recipes make the most of what summer has to offer with fresh fruits and veggies, bright and refreshing greens, tender cuts of meat and frozen treats that celebrate those memorable moments together.

Find more summer recipe inspiration at Culinary.net.

Whether your summer days include planning extravagant meals, or your on-the-go lifestyle calls for quick and easy recipes, simple snacks can fit a wide variety of menus. Dips are a perfect solution for afternoon pick-me-ups or evening appetizers when the whole family comes together.

This Apple Guacamole can be assembled in mere minutes by combining mashed avocados and seasonings with chopped Granny Smith apples, making it an ideal shareable among loved ones.

Visit Culinary.net for more snack ideas.

Dip Up a Good Time

Apple Guacamole

Recipe adapted from the Meredith Corporation Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 8-10 3 ripe avocados, halved and pitted 1/2 c. finely chopped Vidalia onion 1/2 c. snipped fresh cilantro 1 lime, juice only Bottled hot pepper sauce, to taste 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped Kosher salt, to taste Tortilla chips

In bowl, use fork to mash avocados, onion, cilantro, lime juice and hot pepper sauce to desired consistency. Stir in apple and season with salt, to taste.

Serve with tortilla chips.

After some fun in the pool and time spent in the sun, a cooling treat is often the perfect way to cap off a summer day. Fresh fruits make those sweet eats even tastier and easier. Make an easy, fruity dessert in the morning and let it freeze while you enjoy the warmth outdoors.

These Watermelon Berry Frozen Pops make dessert about as simple as possible by blending watermelon, blueberries, raspberries and honey before adding to ice pop molds and freezing throughout the day. With the addition of refreshing watermelon, you’re opting for a flavorful fruit that includes just 80 calories and no fat while providing an excellent source of vitamin C (25 percent) and higher levels of lycopene (12.7 milligrams per 2-cup serving)—an antioxidant being studied for its role in sun protection—than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

To find more summertime snacks, meals and treats, visit Watermelon.org.

Sweet, Summery Treats

FUN GUIDE

Watermelon Berry Frozen Pops

Servings: 8 6 c. watermelon 1 c. blueberries, divided 1 c. raspberries, divided 3 T. honey

In blender, blend watermelon, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1/2 c. raspberries and honey until smooth. Press through fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds.

Fill ice pop molds 3/4 full with liquid. Add remaining whole blueberries and raspberries to molds. Insert sticks and freeze at least 4 hours, or until completely frozen.

Go for Satisfying Summer Greens

Many summer meals start with a simple yet satisfying appetizer: salad. This year, make sure you set the table with a bright, delightful bowl of greens that sets the tone for an enjoyable and festive meal with loved ones.

This Apple, Strawberry, Blueberry Salad calls for an array of fruits, including a homemade blueberry dressing, paired with Fresh Express 5-Lettuce Mix for a fresh and flavorful base. Pecan halves add crunch. The salads are thoroughly washed, rinsed and gently dried then sealed in KeepCrisp bags to maintain freshness.

Find more salad inspiration at FreshExpress.com. Apple, Strawberry, Blueberry Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6 Blueberry Dressing: 2 c. fresh blueberries 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar 2 T. honey 1 T. lemon juice 1/2 c. olive oil Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste 2 large apples 2 packages (6 ounces each) Fresh Express 5-Lettuce Mix 1 pint strawberries, cut in half 1 pint blueberries 1/2 c. pecan halves, toasted Blueberry dressing

To make blueberry dressing: In blender, process blueberries, balsamic vinegar, honey, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste, until smooth. Set aside.

To prepare salad: Cut apples into 1/4-inch thick slices. Using 1-1/2-inch diameter star-shaped cutter, cut apple slices into stars.

Place lettuce mix in large bowl; add apples, strawberries and blueberries. Sprinkle with pecans. Before serving, drizzle salad with blueberry dressing.

S EIZE the summer!

Take every chance you can this summer to make memories and enjoy life to the fullest.

after last summer, it feels like a huge albatross has been removed from our necks and we can stand taller, laugh louder and live again! We need to realize the gift of living a bit less nervously about going to eat ice cream at a picnic table beside an ice cream shop, swimming in a public pool and visiting an amusement park. As long as we practice safety measures, we can truly seize the summer days.

To actually seize an unscheduled day, begin by having the whole family put on their swimsuits and go outside to eat breakfast after running through the sprinkler. Or have all the kids write down on slips of paper something they want to do this summer, then put the papers into a jar. Choose a slip of paper and go—to the zoo, park, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Worlds of Fun, Grandma’s house or just onto the couch to watch a favorite movie. Encourage your kiddos to think outside the box and try different activities.

Encourage spontaneity—grab everyone, get in the car and drive. Wherever you end up, enjoy yourselves. So many lakes in our area offer visitors fun activities. For example, Lake Jacomo’s marina provides boat rental, concessions, lakeside gasoline, tackle, bait and dock fishing. It boasts three boat ramps for easy access, and little fishermen can catch crappie, bluegill, large-mouth bass, carp, catfish, hybrid striped bass and walleye.

Lake Jacomo is just one of many … when you search lakes in the greater Kansas City area, you will find many more ideas. Another is Blue Springs Lake, which offers a swimming beach, boat rental, concessions, tackle, bait, and—if you are very adventurous—you can purchase a boat to stay in overnight. Talk about a staycation on the water!

The most valuable thing you can do is teach relaxation by example. Seizing relaxation is not something to think too hard about. Try picking a nature trail near you. Simply take a walk or run, whichever suits your family, and notice the birds, the rocks, the stream and the leaves.

Local parks are another way to enjoy the season. Playgrounds are great places for socialization and adventure. Lea Mckeighan Park is a favorite, with creative animals to climb on, musical instruments made of steel to play with and even a zip line to glide along. There is plenty of grassy space to run around on, too. Be sure to research their website to find out details.

FUN GUIDE

Summer fairs will be happening once again and are nice outdoor walking events to enjoy. Check websites for these delightful events.

Camping is a fantastic way to seize time with your children this summer. There are a variety of ways to do this. Try camping or glamping in a rented camper. Chance Adventure Company offers airstreams to rent with a variety of options. They will either drive the camper to a location, or you can pull it yourself with your truck. Many companies will rent families an RV. This is a wonderful way to see the country and build strong bonds with your family.

We all attempt to maintain momentum, but slipping into a totally lazy summer of lethargy is an easy trap. Make sure you maintain some sort of schedule during the summer, so when the kids go back to school, whether in person or online, they will not be overwhelmed. Put a schedule on the fridge that you and your kids make together. Who is making breakfast on Tuesday? Who is watering the garden? Who is walking the dog or cleaning the litterbox? With more free time, you also have more opportunities to teach life skills. When you are doing yoga, try showing your kids some simple moves they can do with you. When you are barbecuing outside, make sure the kids help. They can arrange plates on the picnic table, decide which chips to have and help tear up lettuce and arrange pickles on the platter for hamburgers. Another key way to keep your child engaged is to read together. Visit your library website to find the best books for your child’s age and interests. Many are available to rent free online, and when you actually select a book from the library list and reserve it, your child will feel anticipation to get the book.

With this summer looking wonderfully different from last summer, make sure to squeeze in as much fun as possible. Keeping everyone engaged and entertained is a fun task— embrace it! But don’t let an exhausting zeal for fun eclipse savoring the ordinary moments of summertime. You never know what surprises will delight your family!

Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: TheAnxiousMa.com, MomCollective.com

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Summer Fun:

how to plan a photography safari

Aphotography safari, or photo scavenger hunt, is a creative, interactive way to usher your kids away from screens and out into nature this summer.

Getting kids outside is more important than ever. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that kids are spending upwards of seven hours a day with screen technology, which means less time outdoors playing. According to a nationwide poll conducted by the Nature Conservancy, only about 10 percent of children spend time outdoors every day. In the poll, kids said they aren’t interested in being outside, they don’t have access to parks or outdoor recreation or they’re uncomfortable outdoors.

But spending time outdoors has numerous mental and physical health benefits. Research finds that kids who spend time outside are more creative in their play, more physically active and have enhanced attention spans. And as they get older, children who’ve spent time outdoors show a greater appreciation for the environment.

I found that by taking my two sons, ages 13 and 11, out on a photography safari at one of our local parks, we were able to slow down and intentionally observe nature’s quiet rhythm, including wildlife, insects and seasonal plants and colors. Here’s how to plan a photography safari with your family:

• select a location. Parks with nature trails, botanical gardens, nature centers and zoos provide plenty of material for a safari. Or start in your own backyard.

• consider the time commitment. Set aside

30 minutes to an hour. If you’re on vacation, turn the safari into a multi-day event where you collect snapshots over the duration of your trip.

• gather your supplies. If you don’t have a

digital camera and you’re uncomfortable with your child’s borrowing your phone or iPad, check out inexpensive, kid-friendly digital cameras available online and at large discount stores like Walmart and Target. Another option is to purchase a disposable camera. Remember to pack sunscreen, bug spray, water and snacks.

• construct your list. Do some research of your destination to decide what to include on your list. Maybe you plan to hike in a forest or camp at a national park this summer. Make a list of animals, plants, birds or landscapes to be on the lookout for. Decide how many and what types of items to put on your list according to the age of your child.

• types of lists. If you’re going to the zoo, you might craft a list of adjectives that describe different animals. For example, look for animals that are striped, have tusks, swim, waddle, fly, etc. I opted to keep my list for the park general and stuck to having my kids search for particular colors, shapes and textures. To challenge kids who are already handy with a camera, you might have them hunt for interesting angles, lighting and reflections.

• establish ground rules. For our safari, we

decided that we couldn’t choose the same subjects to photograph. Consider how you will structure your hunt. For example: Can we help each other? Is there a time limit to complete the list? Can we only shoot natural objects or are manmade subjects game too? Will we head out together or split into groups? How competitive do we want the hunt to be?

• decide whether you want friendly

competition. I opted not to make our safari a competition with prizes at the end, but you could—especially if you’re hosting a large group of kids you plan to split into teams, like a Boy Scout/Girl Scout group or a birthday party.

Dollar stores offer a variety of inexpensive prize options. You might award prizes to teams who capture the funniest, most striking or creative images. • review and discuss. Go through your photos together and share what you like about each other’s snaps. Ask your kids about their favorite shots and why they like them. • make it seasonal. Help your kids see the beauty of the changing seasons through the eye of their cameras. They may be surprised about how much nature has to offer even in the winter. Look for wintering birds, animal prints in snow, wild grasses and stick-like tendrils of ivy that will resume its climb when spring arrives.

My sons and I began to see all kinds of various shapes and interesting colors that we’d never before noticed when we’d visited the park in the past. We watched a goose swimming gracefully across the lake, a fisherman casting his line and a kayaker paddling smoothly across the water. We peered over a bridge and marveled at the geometric design engineers used to build the lake’s dam. And best of all, while we walked side by side, cameras in hand, we simply enjoyed each other’s company.

FUN GUIDE

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Her latest book is Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

Post-Safari Photo Ideas

• Print out the photos and make a collage or scrapbook. • Paste a favorite photo into a journal and write about it. • If you went to the zoo and picked up a map, cut and paste photos onto the map to keep as a souvenir. • Create a digital photo book. • Write a make-believe story to go with the photos. • Start a private family blog and have your child write a post about his outing featuring his favorite snapshots. • Make a movie slide show of photos set to music.

Sample List for Your Photography Safari

Snap photos of something:

• Green • Furry • Red • Striped • Orange • In motion • Feathered • Round • Square • Oval

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