Stephen George, Editor

What Steve's Eating Grilled Red Chili Steak I like a little heat—from the grill and from a spicy rub. This recipe offers both! Get recipe»

Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

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Summer feels like party season to me. The kids are still in a celebratory mood from being let out of school, we have a string of family birthdays and reunions to plan for, and the weekends are filled with invitations to block parties or festive backyard cookouts. And that doesn’t even include the Fourth of July, which this year is looking to be one big long-weekend party from dawn to dusk.

As much as I enjoy getting out and catching up with friends and extended family, I have to remind myself how quickly the summer flies by (especially when you have a busy social calendar). So I’ve made a habit of marking a couple of weekends here and there as off-limits and unscheduled. Those are the weekends for family time.

It seems odd to have to make room on the calendar for the lazy days of summer, but it’s the only way I can make sure we have the kind of downtime that lets us do the things we want to do as a family. Like playing backyard games with my young daughters, teaching my son the manly art of grilling, or just lounging around in a lawn chair, sharing an evening cocktail with my lovely wife. Those moments may not be as thrilling as a fireworks display or a boisterous block party, but they are most definitely the moments my most special summer memories are made of.

Happy cooking!

Best,
Steve

	• p. 43 Healthy Salads • p. 59 Low Sodium Recipes • p. 63 Diabetic Recipes • Healthy Salads Nutritional Information • New Contest: Summer Sizzle

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