I have some big news. Very big news!!! For those of you who have not heard, I am working on a cookbook, and the manuscript is due September 15th. It is more work than I ever imagined, and I can’t thank my kids, family and friends enough for their understanding during this busy time.

It is a very “big” book. When I say “big”, I mean it. 400 recipes. The book will be out spring 2011.  It is a very exciting time, and I couldn’t have done any of this everyone’s awesome support. I cannot thank you enough.

I will blog more about it in the coming months.  Stay tuned . . .

My daughter, Leigh and I, were trying to figure out what to do with some fresh strawberries and blueberries. Since it’s been so hot outside (100 degrees today), I thought, how about popsicles? With only 3 ingredients, these Strawberry-Blueberry Popsicles were a home-run. They taste great, especially with chunks of fresh strawberries. Thank you, Leigh, for all of your help making these.

When I worked at Southern Living Magazine, we tested a lot of Tomato Pie recipes. I have been searching for one without mayonnaise that was lighter, healthier and still tasted great. My assistant, Alatia, told me about one that she made recently. This Tomato-Basil Pie is super easy, and it makes great use of summery fresh tomatoes and basil. My kids said it tasted similar to a pizza, and they loved it. This is a great recipe idea for a party appetizer, light main-dish dinner or lunch. Serve with a drizzle of balsamic if you like. It’s a true taste of summer.

One of my favorite things to snack on is granola. In town, Big Sky Granola is one of my favorites because it’s chunky like this Chunky Nut and Dried Fruit Granola recipe. I made this for a special treat for my friend who just had surgery, and she took one bite and said, “This granola rocks!” It is as good as it looks and full of wonderful ingredients.

Last weekend, my kids went blueberry picking at Petals from the Past while I was in Park City at EVO. When I got off the plane (at almost midnight), I came home to a refrigerator full of fresh blackberries, blueberries and Chilton County peaches. I was so excited to have the freshness of summer at my fingertips after a long day of traveling. My daughter, Leigh, and I made blueberry muffins the next day and chose to make some with Greek yogurt (I love Fage) and a cinnamon crumb topping. Needless to say, 2 days later, they are all gone.

For a refreshing summertime dessert, try Watermelon-Lime Granita. This is so easy and only 3 ingredients. How could you go wrong? Van from Boutwell Studios asked me on a podcast I did recently for Birmingham Magazine what he could do with his leftover watermelon. I thought this was a fabulous recipe to share. It’s so cool and refreshing and the perfect combination of watermelon and lime. My kids loved it!

We love pumpkin in anything at my house, and these Pumpkin Muffins are my kid’s favorite. I modified this recipe from Ellie Krieger’s recipe from The Food Network. I increased the spices a bit and used allspice instead of cloves. Pumpkin Muffins are perfect for an afternoon snack or quick on-the-go breakfast. These have saved me when we are flying out the door to school in the morning and to sports activities in the afternoon. Also, they are as pretty, and delicious, as they look.

If you get into a rut of serving the same old tossed salad every night, try this. My kids love this Tomato-Feta Salad. It’s so light, fresh and easy to prepare. Serve it with chicken, pork, shrimp or a burger, and you’ve got a great low-fat side dish.

It’s hard to believe that my three kids rarely ever eat cold cereal for breakfast. Maybe, it’s because I spoil them (most likely my fault). I love new breakfast ideas that are great for breakfast on the go (our mornings are pretty hectic). These Blueberry-Orange Muffins are ideal because they are easy to make, so healthy and yummy, and they even make a great afternoon snack. Feel free to use cranberries instead of blueberries and all-purpose or whole wheat flour.

I love baking kid’s treats, and Easter is a perfect time to make delicious confections. These Shortbread Cookies make decorating cookies so fun! I love to use Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa’s) recipe for Shortbread Cookies. I omit the chocolate instructions and use Easter egg cookie cutters. My daughter, Leigh, decorated these and had a blast making them. I used store-bought icing and sprinkles to make life a little easier.