This summer, I have vowed to do things differently and will keep baking. I like knowing I’m contributing to our health, and it seems like it’s always cheaper to cook something healthy than buy something ready-made. While still determined not to spend all of summer in the kitchen, I’ve come up with some tips to help guide me through the heat and bustle of the season.

*All snacks will be season-friendly: The Good Lord created summertime berries for a reason. All the fresh ingredients around me will make up the majority of snacks. Not only is it better for your health, it's better for the environment too! No need to spend money and precious fossil fuels to fly out-of-season foods from other places when there are so many yummy things at the outdoor markets.

*All snacks will be mobile: Summer is a time for visiting. For spur-of-the-moment barbecues and trips to see friends. I don't want to have to worry about locating special serving platters (which seems to be the first thing to go missing) as I'm running out the door!

*All snacks will be laundry-friendly: I'm as devoted to my cocktail meatballs as the next gal, but really there's already enough wonderful summer messes to deal with: extra grass stains, muddy boots from summer showers and ice cream meltdowns. Who wants to spend the summer doing even more laundry?

*I will get in touch with my inner culinary superstar: Like many other homemakers on a budget, I'm guilty of sticking with the familiar. Summer, full of local produce and high-season garden bounty, is the time of year when we can embrace those kooky salsa and cold-soup recipes.

*All snacks will be porch-sittin' approved: Above all, summer is the time to enjoy our families. Our family might not remember the names of the crazy water-rides we took them on, but they will remember barefoot evenings on the back porch, eating cookies and hearing the frogs. I’ll try and make food that is sandwich baggie friendly and easy to sling in a backpack.

Above all, remember that summer is a time for making memories, so while you’re baking get as many little helping hands in the kitchen as possible!