When it comes to having friends and family over for summer gatherings, our first thoughts often turn to late afternoon barbecues with sizzling burgers, plastic cups and paper plates. If that’s your idea of outdoor entertaining, maybe it’s time to get out of the house!

Weber 3880001 Genesis S-320 Natural Gas Grill, Stainless Steel

List Price: $1,019.00
Buy New: $736.00
You Save: $283.00 (28%)

• 3-burner natural gas grill; 42,000 Btu’s; 637 inches total cooking area
• 507 square inches cooking area; 130 square inches warming rack
• Fully enclosed stainless steel cart; porcelain-enameled cooking grates
• 12,000 BTU input flush-mount side burner
• 2 heavy-duty front locking casters and 2 heavy-duty back swivel casters

“So many people are trapped in the mindset china should only be used for formal meals around the dining room table,” says Annie Williamson, showroom stylist with Replacements, Ltd., the world’s largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles. “That’s just so limiting. You can have fantastic fine dining outdoors, such as a sunny afternoon picnic or perhaps a beautiful dinner at sunset or under the stars, simply by using ‘your good stuff’ outdoors.”

Find New Uses for Traditional Pieces
Who says you can only use a tureen to serve soup or goblets for wine? Outdoor or alfresco entertaining really opens the door to new purposes for china, crystal and silver.
* Use a soup tureen to keep dinner rolls or buns warm.
* Iced tea glasses are perfect for parfaits or fruit salads, while sherbet or champagne glasses are great for serving ice cream and other summertime desserts.
* Use silver mint julep cups to serve shrimp cocktail or as individual vases. Fill coffee pots and pitchers with fresh flowers to create unusual centerpieces.
* Fill your silver or crystal punch bowl with ice to chill bottles of wine and other beverages.
* Stack footed cake plates, fill with appetizers and adorn with fresh flowers. You can also place candles of varying sizes on cake plates to create a great accent or centerpiece for evening entertaining.

Sizzle With Seasonal Color
From crystal blue skies to vibrant blooming flowers, dining outdoors is all about summertime hues. “Entertaining outside frees up the host to mix bright colors that might be a little overwhelming indoors,” says Replacements’ Dubravka Vujinovic. “Get creative by mixing and matching different hues of china or colored glass. And instead of using a tablecloth, buy inexpensive fabric remnants to layer various bold colors to accent your tableware.” She also suggests using ribbon or kitchen twine to affix fresh flowers around linens instead of using napkin rings, or using bedding plants in lieu of cut flowers. Take advantage of color all around you by incorporating fresh flowers and greenery from your yard or summer fruits and vegetables from your garden in centerpieces and other decor.

Hit the Spot With Summer Tea Parties
Formal afternoon tea isn’t just for the English, tea parties are becoming a popular entertaining trend.
* Set up several small tables around your patio or deck with tea sets/themes of various patterns; tie those together with similar floral centerpieces.
* Purchase tea cups in patterns that fit your guests’ individual personalities for a take home gift.
* Float delicate blossoms in tea cups or fill with miniature bouquets for colorful accents.

Don’t Worry About the Ants
Take out your bridal china for an elegant, romantic afternoon picnic.
* Use soup tureens or covered vegetable bowls to serve tuna or potato salads.
* Serve sandwiches or desserts on handled cake plates.

“So many people are squeamish about using their china, crystal or silver, especially heirloom and discontinued patterns,” says Vujinovic. “But these pieces are made to be used. In fact, regular hand washing will help keep impurities from penetrating the glaze of china and basically keeps the glaze strong, while silver’s finish actually improves with daily use.”

When you’re looking for something you and your child can do together, head for the kitchen and stir up something good to eat. Cooking can be both educational and fun and often results in a tasty treat, too.

Rachael Ray 5-Quart Hard Anodized Orange Oval Saute Pan with Helper Handle

List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $49.99
You Save: $30.00 (38%)

There’s no wasted space on your stovetop when you use Rachael Ray’s innovative saute pan. The efficient oval design allows you to easily fit this large, high-capacity pan on a single burner, saving precious workspace for faster meal preparation. Hard-anodized for maximum durability and fast, even heating, this saute pan is a smart choice. Each handle features a signature orange silicone sleeve that’s heat resistant and easy to grip. Limited lifetime warranty.

During a cooking session, you can teach children about nutrition, work with them on measurements, particularly fractions, and share your culture through your family’s food history. With cooking experiences, kids also can learn how important it is to read carefully and follow directions.

On the subject of nutrition, you might explain that eating a variety of foods is important so that you get all the nutrients your body needs to grow. Different groups of foods provide protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Although all foods supply a variety of nutrients, some are better at providing certain nutrients than others.

For example, the foods in the meat and meat alternates group, including eggs, are good sources of high-quality protein for energy and strong muscles. You can go online to MyPyramid.gov to run off for each child — based on age, sex and activity level — a list of the number of servings from each of the food groups that are needed daily.

The fun part is in the preparation and eating. For the best likelihood of success, have the kids do tasks suited to their ages and abilities. Maybe the youngest ones can help stir, older children can measure ingredients and teens can slice and dice and do the actual cooking. Simply choose a recipe that includes ingredients with wide appeal and let the children add other ingredients, such as favorite flavorings, if they like.

Both Brontosaurus Egg and Wagon Wheel Frittata were designed with kids in mind. In addition to being easy to make, these recipes are based on all-natural eggs which offer the highest quality protein of any food and are a favorite of most children.

Brontosaurus Egg

(Makes 1 serving.)

Ingredients:
1 frozen waffle or bread slice
1 teaspoon cooking oil or butter
1 egg
1 tablespoon shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
Salsa, taco sauce or catsup, if you like

Directions:

Let the frozen waffle thaw for about five or six minutes. With a 2- to 3-inch diameter cookie cutter, cut out the center of the waffle. Or, set a drinking glass upside down on the waffle and cut out the center of the waffle by cutting around the glass with a small knife.

In a medium-sized omelet pan or skillet (about 6 to 8 inches) over medium heat, heat the oil or melt the butter. Sprinkle a few drops of water into the pan. If the drops “dance” and sizzle in the pan, it’s ready for cooking. Place the waffle and the cutout in the pan. Break the egg and slip it into the hole in the waffle. Immediately turn the heat down to low.

Let the waffle cook until the bottom is lightly browned, about three minutes. With a pancake turner, carefully turn over the cutout and the waffle with the egg inside. Sprinkle the egg with the cheese. Cook until the egg white is completely set and firm and the egg yolk begins to thicken, about three to five minutes more. With a pancake turner, lift the cutout and the waffle with the egg inside onto a plate. Spoon salsa, taco sauce or catsup on top of the egg, if you like.

Nutrition information per serving using waffle and corn oil without optional topping: 233 calories, 14 g total fat, 221 mg cholesterol, 348 mg sodium, 116 mg potassium, 15 g carbohydrate, 11 g protein and 10 percent or more of the RDI for vitamins A and B12 , niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, calcium, iron and phosphorus

Wagon Wheel Frittata (Makes 6 servings)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon cooking oil or butter
1 package (10 ounces.) frozen broccoli spears
1 tablespoon water
1 can (4 ounces.) button mushrooms, drained
6 eggs
1/3 cup skim or low-fat milk
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, crushed
6 very thin tomato slices
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a 10-inch omelet pan or skillet over medium heat, heat the oil or melt the butter. Add the broccoli and water. Cover and cook just until you can break the broccoli spears apart with a fork, about five minutes. Take the pan off the heat.

Arrange the broccoli spears around the pan so the stems point to the center of the pan. Set the mushrooms, rounded sides up, between the broccoli spears.

In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and seasoning until they’re thoroughly blended. Pour the egg mixture over the broccoli in the pan.

Cook the egg mixture over medium heat until the eggs are almost set on top. Take the pan off the heat. Place the largest tomato slice in the center. Cut the rest of the tomato slices in half and arrange them around the big slice so they look like wagon wheel spokes. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the frittata.

Cover the pan and let it stand until the eggs are completely set, about five minutes. Cut the frittata into wedges and serve it from the pan.

Nutrition information per serving of 1/6 recipe using corn oil: 133 calories, 8 g total fat, 214 mg cholesterol, 196 mg sodium, 261 mg potassium, 5 g carbohydrate, 10 g protein and 10 percent or more of the RDI for vitamins A, B12 and C, riboflavin, calcium and phosphorus

For more information about the nutrition value of eggs, and to access more recipes, log on to www.IncredibleEgg.org.

Soups and stews are two of the most popular wintertime staples. Not only do they fill the house with rich, mouthwatering aromas while they simmer on the stove, they are the ultimate in great-tasting comfort foods.

Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven

List Price: $77.50
Buy New: $39.95
You Save: $37.55 (48%)

For more than a century home cooks and great chefs have cherished their round enamel cast iron ovens. From the stovetop and oven, to its elegant table presentation, Lodge Enamel provides superior cooking performance, versatility, and unparalleled style. When you’re finished with your meal simply store your food in the refrigerator or freezer without any concern about food reacting to the porcelain enamel surface.

Using broth to create homemade soups and stews is a wonderful way to add lots of flavor to these tasty dishes without having to spend all day in the kitchen. In fact, most people use broth in home-cooked soups and stews. According to a recent survey commissioned by Campbell Soup Company, broth is used in homemade soup more than 80 percent of the time, and in stews made from scratch 69 percent of the time. So, go ahead and warm up your taste buds with these cold-weather classics.

Sensational Chicken Noodle Soup starts with a flavorful base of Swanson chicken broth and combines chicken, egg noodles, carrots and celery to create a heartwarming dish as good as grandma would make.

For a satisfying entree, prepare Hearty Beef Stew. Just add potatoes, beef and carrots to Swanson beef broth for a slow-cooked meal that is tender and tasty. It is sure to be a family favorite!

When the weather outside gets frightful — create a delightful homemade soup or stew that is sure to warm your family from the inside out. For more hearty dishes and helpful cooking tips, visit www.swansonbroth.com.

Beef Barley Soup
Prep: 20 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
Cook: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
2 cups water
1/4 cup uncooked pearl barley
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak or top round steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
6 ounces mushrooms, sliced (about 2 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups Swanson Beef Broth (regular, 50 Percent Less Sodium or Certified Organic)
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
Generous dash ground black pepper
2 medium carrots, sliced (about 1 cup)

Directions:
1. Heat the water in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Add the barley.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 40 minutes or until the barley is
tender, stirring occasionally. Drain.
2. Cook the beef in a 3-quart nonstick saucepot until it’s well browned, stirring often.
3. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook until the mushrooms are tender.
4. Stir the broth, thyme, black pepper and carrots into the saucepot. Heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender. Stir in the barley.

TIP: Substitute 1/2-cup quick-cooking barley for the pearl barley. Cook for 12 minutes (or according to the package directions) or until the barley is tender.

Sensational Chicken Noodle Soup
Prep: 5 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
Cook: 25 minutes

Ingredients
4 cups Swanson Chicken Broth (regular, Natural Goodness or Certified Organic)
Generous dash ground black pepper
1 medium carrot, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup uncooked extra wide egg noodles
1 cup shredded cooked chicken or turkey

Directions
1. Heat the broth, pepper, carrot and celery in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil.
2. Stir the noodles and chicken into the saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 10 minutes or until the noodles are tender.

Asian Soup: Add 2 green onions cut into 1/2-inch pieces, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon ground ginger and 2 teaspoons soy sauce. Substitute uncooked curly Asian noodles for egg noodles.

Mexican Soup: Add 1/2 cup Pace Chunky Salsa, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1 cup rinsed and drained black beans and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder. Substitute 2 corn tortillas (4 or 6-inch) cut into thin strips for the noodles, adding them just before serving.

Italian Tortellini Soup: Add 1 can (about 14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed and 1 cup spinach leaves. Substitute 1/2 cup frozen cheese tortellini for egg noodles. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.