"Specifically kitchen tips" would be little shortcuts, tricks, or tips. For example, a tip about cooking pasta (special tip that makes it easier or better) is great; simply a pasta salad recipe wouldn't qualify.

I think if you scroll through my past kitchen tips you'll see what I mean -- I've posted things like storing cheese, cooking on stainless steel, cleaning cookware, air-drying dishes on a towel instead of in a drainer, making pizza while entertaining guests, freezing waffles, keeping apple slices fresh using pineapple juice, etc... :)

However, I didn't want to completely lose the great recipes many of you came here to share! So...

Starting next week, I will be hosting an In-Season Recipe Swap each Wednesday!

We love eating fresh seasonal foods! Even when we didn't have our own garden, we have been blessed to be the recipients of garden produce from friends and relatives nearly every year since we've been married.

Eating in-season food is healthier, cheaper, and fresher!

It's healthier because you're less likely to get stuck in ruts of eating too much of one thing for too many weeks/months. Plus, in most cases eating seasonally means you're dishing up extra helpings of fruits and veggies!

It's cheaper because in-season food is usually priced lower; or, you can grow your own and eat for pennies.

Fresher? What can be fresher than pulling an onion out of your garden? :) In-season produce in the stores will be fresher, and fresh food is healthier, as well. :)

Here are the instructions for participating in the In-Season Recipe Swap:

1. Each week will be themed. (Do I have many southern-hemisphere readers?) Your recipe will need to be on-topic to help keep the swap organized. :)

2. Your recipe should include your own photo of your food. The intent of my blog has always been to showcase recipes with photos, which is why all of my recipes include photos! (And on that note, you all know not to use others' photos without permission, ever, right? Good.) :)

3. Your recipe/post must link back to the recipe swap. Then come here and put your link on my page, so we know where to find YOU, too! :)

We'll start this Wednesday, May 6, 2009. This week's theme is an easy one: milk! (For all of you with goats or cows, this is definitely a seasonal food right now!)

Tell your friends! :) I'm looking forward to seeing your yummy recipes that use a lot of milk! :) And I'm hoping that this recipe swap encourages all of us to eat healthier, try new foods, and enjoy seasonal eating! :)

P.S. Most weeks' recipe themes will focus on a fruit, vegetable, or grain rather than meats. :)

Upcoming In-Season Recipe Swap themes:

May 6 - Milk (cow or goat)
May 13 - Asparagus
May 20 - Lettuce
May 27 - Rhubarb