Family Foodin’
“Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies, everyone goes, cause everyone knows, Brother Love’s show” – Neil Diamond

Warm July afternoons, hot August nights, or cool September morns—summer is a time for family gatherings on beaches, in pine groves, city parks and back yards. So let’s throw out the challenge to make this summer a lesson in family bonding over preparing good food.  Here’s a step by step guide to ensuring this summer’s family picnic, barbecue, or reunion involves babies, ladies, teens and Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary.

How to fully execute a Family Picnic 101:

Step 1: Set the date, place and call for participants.

Step 2: Assign teams of young and not so young.  Step 3: Pack up everyone (especially the children and teens) and head to the farmers market, farm stand, or pickyour-own farm.

Step 4: Have the teams divide and conquer. Suggest they work with the farmers, vendors and customize their menu.

Step 5: Back in the kitchen, barn, field, beach—any place for the food love—everyone gets a job: shucking corn, hand caressing burgers, ripping the bread, stoking the fire.  Step 6: Set-up, un-pack, cook-off, and serve.

Step 7: Eat, love your brothers’ and sisters’ food, and thank everyone for their effort.

Step 8: Repeat steps 1–7 as often as possible throughout the summer.

Following are some full family lovin’ recipes as perfected by some of

Connecticut’s best young peoples’ chefs. —John Turenne