Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Stephen George, Editor

What Steve's Eating Makeover Apple Coffee Cake I love waking up to this great morning treat—assuming there's any left after my son digs into it. Get recipe»

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Things are crazy around the house right now. Summer may be winding down, but the school year is ramping up. That means the kitchen is busier than ever. For my family, "back to school" also means "back to basics" as we stock up on lunch fixings and start laying in ingredients for make-ahead meals and slow cooker recipes that will soon be a fixture of our evening life.

But we're also using the season as an opportunity to try some new recipes. My son has hit that age where his appetite is insatiable—the kid eats as though food were being outlawed tomorrow. Gone are the days when a bowl of cereal qualified as breakfast for him, so now we're experimenting with hearty, healthy breakfast sandwiches and casseroles that can (hopefully) keep his stomach from growling til lunch.

As hectic as it is, I love the transition between summer and fall. The temperatures are finally starting to moderate, and it's a fantastic time to be outdoors for a hike or a bike ride. One of our favorite weekend activities is to hit the pick-your-own orchards for a bushel or so of fresh apples. My family likes them in salads, and they're great additions to breads or coffee cakes. As for me, apples mean just one thing: fall is almost here, and it's time to start baking some pies!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Steve

	• p. 20 How to Throw a Block Party • p. 60 Low Sodium Recipes • p. 62 Diabetic Connection • Super Suppers Nutritional Information (pdf) • New Contest: Healthy in a Hurry!

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