It's the holiday season! As we continue to stay home and be safe, we can still enjoy this magical time of year. Holidays are a feast for our senses: the smell of a fresh pine tree decorated with all the trimmings, tasting a warm cup of cocoa with melty marshmallows, wrapping the softness of a warm scarf around your neck as you take a morning walk, watching a favorite holiday movie or listening to festive music. But most of all, the holidays bring families together. One of the ways families and friends deepen their bond is by preparing and enjoying a meal together. Food is the centerpiece of so many holiday traditions. The experience of tasting and smelling food, as well as its texture, creates connections in our memories of the moment. It becomes part of our past and our present. So what food memories will you make in the future? We have some fun holiday ideas for foodies while staying safe at home for the holidays!

October is Vegetarian Awareness Month. Have you been interested in including more veggies in your diet or slowly leaving meat behind? There are some great cookbooks for all ages that can provide fun and simple recipes to help you reach your ultimate veggie goal.

Originally an accidental invention by an 11-year-old boy back in 1905, the popsicle has become a mainstay treat for hot summer days. Whether you're in the mood for fresh and fruity or extra-sweet and indulgent, it's super easy to whip up your own homemade popsicles. Give it a try whenever you're in the mood for a refreshing snack or dessert. Below is a round-up of resources about America's favorite frozen confection.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

How about breaking the dinner routine tonight and having a picnic. It's not too hot out, and there's a cool summer breeze. You don't even have to pack up the car and drive to a park. Just  walk right out into your backyard, lay a blanket out on the grass, and rely on the food you have, with maybe a little creativity. You can even use leftovers from last night or throw together an effortless salad..Keep it simple, let the kids help, and play some no sweat games like duck, duck goose or  "I spy."  Avoiding too much fuss will promote relaxation and chilling and give you time to enjoy your family and friends. Spontaneous may be the best way to go.  When you're in the mood for something a little more hearty and you want to take your picnic up a notch, you'll find tons of great grilling and picnic recipes here. Check out a few cookbooks that will give you ideas for quick meals. Head back to 62 days of Summer for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Looking to try something new in the kitchen? These cookbooks offer recipes from around the world and meal ideas both old and new.  

• Indian-ish by Priya Krishna - Indian food is everyday food! This colorful, lively book is food writer Priya Krishna's loving tribute to her mom's "Indian-ish" cooking-a trove of one-of-a-kind Indian-American hybrids that are easy to make, clever, practical, and packed with flavor. Think Roti Pizza, Tomato Rice with Crispy Cheddar, Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Green Pea Chutney, and Malaysian Ramen.

• Six Ingredient Meals - With only six ingredients or less per recipe, making dinner has never been easier. Six Sisters' Stuff is one of the most popular blogs for quick and easy cooking and entertaining at home for families. In their eighth cookbook, they tackle how to master meals for any cook with any skill level with more than 100 easy recipes made with incredible flavor combinations from just six ingredients or less.
• The Geeky Chef Cookbook by Cassandra Reeder - You've watched the TV shows and movies, played the video games, and read the books. Now it's time to level-up your geek factor…into the kitchen. From Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games, and Star Trek to Doctor Who, The Legend of Zelda, and World of Warcraft, The Geeky Chef compiles over 60 delectable, ethereal, and just plain odd-yet oddly delicious-recipes that you can re-create right in your own home. This smaller hardcover version of the original book has a new, fresh, modern design and includes 10 additional recipes from The Geeky Chef Strikes Back, making it the perfect gift for the geek in your life.
• Tasting The Past: Recipes From Antiquity by Jacqui Wood - The many influences of the past on our diet today make the concept of 'British food' very hard to define. The Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans all brought ingredients to the table, as it were, and onwards the Crusades gave us all manner of spices. This book, one of three volumes, documents the rich history of our food, its fads and its fashions to be combined with a practical cookbook from antiquity. Offerings include tasty beach BBQ ideas from Celtic times, a hearty Roman Army lentil stew and ideas for festive feasts of ancient times.
• Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi - Plenty is a must-have collection of 120 vegetarian recipes featuring exciting flavors and fresh combinations that will delight readers and eaters looking for a sparkling new take on vegetables. Yotam's food inspiration comes from his Mediterranean background and his unapologetic love of ingredients. Not a vegetarian himself, his approach to vegetable dishes is wholly original and innovative, based on freshness and seasonality, and drawn from the diverse food cultures represented in London.
• Myers+Chang At Home by Joanne Chang - These recipes, all bursting with flavor, are meant to be shared, and anyone can make them at home-try Dan Dan Noodle Salad, Triple Pork Mushu Stir-fry, or Grilled Corn with Spicy Sriracha Butter. This is food people crave and will want to make again and again. Paired with the couple's favorite recipes, the photography perfectly captures the spirit of the restaurant, making this book a keepsake for devoted fans.