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Chicken and TurkeyGrillingHow to Celebrate Everything

My New Favorite Word

By June 28, 2016June 30th, 2016146 Comments


No, the word is not โ€œyakitori,โ€ though thatย is what you are looking at above, and thatย does play a small role in this post. A delicious role, actuallyโ€ฆall scalliony and salty and glazy. No, yakitori, as good as it is on the grill, shared with friends on a Saturday summer night, that is not the word I want to talk about today.

On Saturday morning, Abby, who had just wrapped up seventh grade the day before, said to me all forlorn and only a little sarcastically, โ€œMom, summerโ€™s almost over. Itโ€™s going way too fast.โ€ I should remind you here that this is the kid who doesnโ€™t want her birthday to come because in her mind, its arrival means sheโ€™s that much closer to it being over. But I know what she means. I remember when I was a kid, looking at my townโ€™s abandoned Labor Day pool โ€” everyone squeezing in one last trip before school started โ€” the fall breeze whipping little ripples on its surface, and longing for it to be Fourth of July instead. Did I know how good I had it on the Fourth, the whole summer stretched before me? Iโ€™d ask myself. Did I? At some point, I got used to the idea that certain things move fast, and way up on the top of that list of things was summer. By the time I was Abbyโ€™s age, I had taught myself not to take Independence Day for granted. In between bursts of fireworks, Iโ€™d ask my enlightened self: Are you paying attention? Your Labor Day self is going to beย soooo jealous of your Fourth of July self. I was still filled with dread on Labor Day, but it brought a small measure of comfort to know that Iโ€™d at least had the wherewithal to recognize the moment, that I had lived that moment withโ€ฆintention.

Yeah, thatโ€™s the word.

Itโ€™s come up a lot lately. Early in the month, I got an email from one of my media friends, David, the father of a 16-month-old. He had received an advance copy of How to Celebrate Everything and said to me, โ€œThis is what I need right now. The reminder to live intentionally.โ€ My first thought: Where were you when I was subtitling my book? (A Year of Living Intentionally?โ€ฆ.A Year of Intentional Thinking?โ€ฆA Series of Intentional Events?)ย My second: For real? You really truly want to be more in the moment during those sleep-deprived, diaper-changing years?

Iโ€™m joking. Of course we do. (Do we?) YES, we do! Of course we do!

Then last week, I saw that KJ Dellโ€™Antonia over atย Motherlode, is running a whole series devoted to the concept of โ€œThe Intentional Summer.โ€ Hereโ€™s a section where she describes why:

โ€œThe sense that summer fun slips through our fingers is real, and itโ€™s reflected in how peopleย report feelings of health and well-beingย over the course of a 24-day vacation: Our positive feelings increase quickly at the outset, peak about one-third of the way through and then start a downward slide toward our baseline happiness โ€” and sadly, leave us back there about a week after we return to work.

Jessica de Bloom, the researcher on that and other studies on vacation and happiness, suggested that we take time to consider how we can maximize our summer pleasure, even when weโ€™re not on vacation. A sense of autonomy โ€” of making active decisions about how we spend our time โ€” is one of the elements that helps us enjoy our free time.

โ€œMake ordinary evenings and weekends more memorable,โ€ she said. Do the things you normally do โ€œa little bit differently. Take a bike instead of the busโ€ or car. Research also suggests that people appreciate their leisure most when it includes elements of challenge, connects us with the people we care about, or helps us to feel a sense of purpose, she said.

My first thought: My seventh-grade self was not insane. My second: Wow, that is one amazing idea for a family series. Each week for the next two months Motherlode will put forth a simple challenge. This weekโ€™s: Ride your bike or walk somewhere youโ€™d normally drive; pick a short distance so it might turn into a summer ritual. I havenโ€™t done that one specifically, but just the whole idea made me realize that there are a few beginning-of-summer rituals in my family โ€” a kick-off summer BBQ with our friends Todd and Anne; an adventurous hike; a trip to Pixarโ€™s annual June release โ€” that needed to be actively recognized and celebrated, and then intentionally set into memory amber with tasty food, thereby maximizing the chance that my kids (and their parents) will be able to call upon the resulting summer happiness all year long.


Chicken (or Turkey) Yakitori with Basting Sauce

I intentionally picked a meal that Iโ€™ve been intending to make forever. (OK OK JENNY WE GET IT!) I first spied this inย Bon Appetitโ€˜s Grilling Bookย about three years ago and it has been on the short list ever since.ย (The book is a summer must-have btw; Hereโ€™s a highlight reelย if you need convincing.) Note: Nothing wrong with throwing a fewย hot dogs on the Weber too, should you have any young yakitori skeptics in your house. This recipe has been adapted.

2 lb ground chicken, preferably dark meat, divided (we used a mix of ground turkey thighs and breasts)
1 cup minced scallions (about 6)
2 tablespoons red miso
2 tablespoons sesame oil
vegetable oil, for brushing
Tare (soy basting sauce, recipe follows)

Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 2/3 pound (1 1/2 cups) ground chicken, stirring frequently, until it is opaque and just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Combine cooked chicken, remaining 1 1/3 pound chicken, scallions, miso, and 2 tablespoons oil in al are bowl. Knead until a homogenized, sticky mixture forms, about 5 minutes. Clean hands; lightly coat with oil to prevent meat mixture from sticking. Divide mixture into 16 equal portions. Roll each into a ball, then form each ball into a 4-inch-long cylinder. Insert skewers (BA suggests two 6-inch flat wooden skewers per cylinder, which Iโ€™m sure made them easier to handle, but as you can see, we used regular old metal ones and it was fine). Press meat gently to flatten slightly. Repeat with remaining skewers and meat.

Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to high. Brush grill grates lightly with vegetable oil. Place yakitori on grill in batches, turning every minute for 4 minutes. Brush with Tare and continue cooking, turning once for 2 minutes. Brush again with Tare and grill, turning once, until cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Tare basting sauce:

1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons sake
3/4 teaspoon light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 scallion, chopped
1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled, sliced

Place a fine-mesh sieve over a small bowl. Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to a generous 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Strain Sauce, discarding solids in sieve. Let cool. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Cover and chill.

This recipe was reprinted with permission from Bon Appetit.


On Sunday, we hiked Mt. Tammanyโ€™s Red Dot Trail overlooking the Delaware Water Gap. Halfway down the mountain, Abby said, โ€œYou know what should be a ritual? Milkshakes and French fries after a hike.โ€ I couldnโ€™t agree more.

P.S. Spontaneous giveaway! I donโ€™t have advance copies of my book yet, but I do have a single galley (a black-and-white paperback) thatโ€™s looking for a home. Comment below with a favorite summer ritual to be eligible to win it. Contest ends Wednesday 6/29 at 8:00 pm ET. Update: The winner has been chosen. Thanks for playing everyone!

146 Comments

  • Avatar Kate says:

    Brunches outside on our patio.

  • Avatar Amy says:

    When weโ€™re getting ready to go away for our first weekend out of town every summer (usually to Santa Barbara, and sometimes camping) we buy one of those multi packs of the individual cereal boxes. Everyone fights over the Froot Loops, but itโ€™s so much fun to eat unhealthy cereal once in a while, and it really says SUMMER VACATION!

  • Avatar Heather says:

    We have our family picture taken every summer. It was a โ€œone-time thingโ€ that just turned into an annual summer thing. Most of the time, Iโ€™m cursing hours before the shoot, trying to wrangle bodies into put-together coordinating outfits. We are all sweaty and tired by the time we get to the photographerโ€™s spot. But I always forget about the sweat and tears by the time we get our proofs back! And we get to enjoy a sunny memory on our dining room wall all year long while we eat dinner together.
    So excited for your new book!

  • Avatar Rena says:

    Great post. Something Im trying to do so we can savour each and every moment of summer!

  • Avatar Ashley says:

    I need a grill! I think my family would enjoy trying these.

    As for summer ritualsโ€ฆmy daughter just turned three so nothing big yet. Lots of pool time. The adults make a point of drinking gin and tonics and rose. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Avatar Lynn says:

    Our summer ritual is going to the same 2 adjacent arts festivals and picking up new things from our favorite artists. For me itโ€™s 2 new pieces of ceramics every year.

  • Avatar Trang Do says:

    Looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing!
    Xoxo,
    Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

  • Avatar Sadie says:

    My favorite summer ritual from age 10 on through highschool was on my week off between school ending and before my camps or my job started I would wake up early early (6 am) in the summer and head out to the hammock with breakfast (usually a rhubarb crisp from the night before with a scoop of yogurt because hey thats breakfast!) and stay reading on the hammock until noon in my pjs. I would finish a book a day!

  • Avatar Sara Harris says:

    Weโ€™ve traveled to Northern Wisconsin to visit family friends over the 4th since I was 4. My husband loves to go as well, and itโ€™s been great to to experience a childhood tradition with him.

  • Avatar marjolein says:

    We go on a family holiday every summer. Three weeks of camping, with BBQโ€™s, swimming even when the weather is cold, hiking, watching the shooting stars around my birthday (sometimes freezing even when weโ€™re wrapped in lots of warm clothes and blankets, but the four of us lying on our backs looking up), endless reading of books and playing, kids helping with the cooking, <3 big hearts for the summer!!!

  • Avatar Christy says:

    I love having movies on the lawn and inviting all of our friends and neighbors! We provide the popcorn and everyone brings their favorite candy. Itโ€™s a neighborhood favorite!

  • Avatar Leslie says:

    Since becoming parents, we have shelved our Friday patio bar ritual, but now we leave the baby pool out so we can soak our feet while we grill dinner and nurse our G&Ts!

  • Avatar chelsea says:

    We live in Austin, Texas where it is hot, hot, hot in the summer. We often throw our swimsuits and towels in the car on date night and end the evening at Barton Springs Pool (a spring fed, 68 degree gift to our city). Cooling off in the dark (its free after 9 pm!) with the cityscape glowing in the distance with all out other cool seeking Austinites is a great treat at the end of a hot day. And then we scurry home and hop into bed while our skin is still cool. Heaven.

  • Avatar kathryn dolesh says:

    camping with my kiddos!

  • Avatar Ada-Marie says:

    Thank you for the giveaway! My favorite summer ritual is making the 10+ hour drive north to spend two weeks at a primitive cottage on the St.Lawrence River built in 1890 where my husband spent summers as a kid. Itโ€™s our annual family reset button!

  • Avatar Katie C. says:

    Buying a new pair of sneakers for the year! Thereโ€™s something about the bouncy springy-ness and glow in the dark white-ness that spells summer to me.

  • Avatar Sue H says:

    Summer is the time for โ€œspeediesโ€ โ€“ a Endicott/Binghamton NY specialty. I use pork which is merinaded and then grilled. Delish! Left overs are even better! Nothing says summer like speedies!

  • Avatar Sarah says:

    Every summer my girls and I WALK to dunkin donuts for a treat and then walk over to the book resale shop where they each pick out a book. Itโ€™s just something we did one summer and now itโ€™s the first thing they mention when making our summer wish list

  • Justin says:

    Eating watermelon in the sun!!

  • Avatar Holly Richardson says:

    Eating watermelon at the beach!

  • Avatar kristin says:

    strawberry picking! My mother and grandmother always took us, on a week day to avoid the crowds, which meant we got to go into school late! Then we helped make lots and lots of freezer jam and ate strawberry shortcake every day for a week.

  • Avatar Jen L says:

    To celebrate the last day of school today we started a new tradition of going out for a quick breakfast rather than the usual cereal & toast โ€“ it was such a fun change in routine!

  • Avatar Ruth in VT says:

    Camping! Making a fire and sitting around it drinking tea and roasting marshmallows. Weโ€™re trying to figure out how to camp with our two-year-old and actually have her sleep so the next day isnโ€™t a total wash.

  • Avatar Sally says:

    I love EVERY kind of fruit picking โ€“ strawberry, cherry, blueberry, peachโ€ฆ So much fun!

  • Avatar Sally says:

    (not sure if this went through): I love EVERY kind of fruit picking โ€“ strawberry, cherry, blueberry, peachโ€ฆ So much fun!

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