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Fall family fun dinner

A bike ride to the park

by Julie Languille | 571 views | 0 comments | Rate this now!

It's fall! I love autumn, especially while it is still warm, but the kids are back in school and the days seem to be bathed in a beautiful golden sunlight. Before it starts getting dark too early, there's still time to have a family fun dinner adventure. Why not pack up a quick, easy dinner to go and hop on your bicycles and head to the park for dinner? It's great exercise, everybody will work up a terrific appetite, and you'll have a wonderful time together enjoying one another's company. If you don't have a park nearby, any local scenic spot will do. Even just a bench, or you can spread a blanket under a tree and let the kids run a bit before dinner.

What to bring:

1.) A towel to wipe benches clean and dry before sitting on them.

2.) A small blanket or throw to sit on (if there aren't picnic tables where you are going).

3.) Windbreakers or light jackets for everybody.

4.) A cooler to carry drinks and dinner.

Divide items up so each person can carry something. Be sure to strap items to bikes so they can be safely transported. If the park you are going to has grills, you can consider grilling dinner. It would be fun to gather around the fire and toast marshmallows after dinner. Do you remember any silly camp songs from your youth? Now's the time to teach them to your children. "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree."

Here are a couple of easy dinner recipes for a trip to the park, but the choices are virtually limitless. Be sure to choose someting your family will love at Dinners In A Flash.

Veggie Pita Pockets

These are outstanding, packed with vegetables, and completely portable. Take them to the beach or the park!

Serves 4

4 8-inch pita breads

1 package hummus

2 cups baby spinach

1-1/2 cups Mushrooms, sliced

1/2 cups seedless Kalamata olives

1/3 cup Feta cheese, crumbled

3/4 cup prepared Tzatziki sauce

Open the pitas along one edge and spread them with hummus. Add spinach, mushrooms, olives, and feta and tuck against the far edge of the pita. Drizzle with tzatziki sauce. Tuck the top edge under the fillings, and roll up burrito style. Wrap in foil and chill to transport or serve immediately.

Barley, Apple, and Fennel Salad

This a great healthy side dish that also makes a great lunch.

Serves 4

1-1/3 cup hulled barley

4 apples, chopped

2 bulbs fennel, thinly sliced

4 Tablespoons walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup light vinaigrette dressing (such as Newman's Own)

Combine all ingredients and serve over arugula, if desired.

About the Author

Julie Languille is a mom of four and a computer programmer who created Dinners in a Flash to solve meal planning challenges in her household. Today Dinners in Flash serves many clients and offers access to more than 2,500 mouthwatering recipes.