Best Blogging Conference – Why Families Belong in the Kitchen Together

Best. Blogging. Experience. Ever. That’s how I describe Blog Brûlée – a conference I was invited to just for dietitians who blog (yes, my attendance was sponsored but all opinions are my own)! Flying home with an empty seat next to me on the plane, I went through my 64+ pages (wow!) of expert blogging notes and narrowed it to 8 (yes, 8) pages of to-do’s.  The higher I was in the air, the more clear things became for me and this blog. I thought about why I started my blog in the first place. Sure I grew up on a farm, am down-to-earth (realistic and friendly) with my nutrition recommendations and started a nationally recognized cooking and garden program for kids. But my real love has always been my family in the kitchen. Cooking with my kids because I enjoy it. Because I want them to enjoy it. Because I want them to have life skills and know-how and feed themselves more than microwaveable mac and cheese bowls. 

And I kind of forgot all about this until Blog Brûlée .  (Thanks Deanna!) How could I have forgotten my focus?

Because a crazy, busy schedule sucks it right away! Moms, I have some thoughts – don’t forget to: 

Do what matters.

Take care of your family.

Tuck your kids into bed.

Make them a meal each night because it’s love.

One day too soon, the tucking will stop but the meals will continue. And you can make your meals more memorable by cooking them together.

That’s what I did with my new Blog Brûlée family – cooked and enjoyed food together.  In Vermont.

I made scrambled eggs (using Safe Eggs – I love these eggs because they are pasteurized and allow me to eat cookie dough without worrying about getting ill!) and toast, spread with Welch’s Grape Jelly (a family favorite, all my life) each morning with my roomie and sweet, new blogger friend, McKenzie from NourishRDs. We hit it off right away and laughed about…well, more on that in an upcoming post! Check out her blog, it’s full of wholesome, sustainable and delicious food, including Raspberry Mango Salsa!

We made s’mores around the fire at Smugglers’ Notch in near Burlington, Vermont in cool and rainy weather with smiles on our faces.  Smugglers’ Notch is rated #1 as a family destination on the East Coast – Thanks for hosting us!  I loved having a fireplace in my bedroom and a shower with double heads.  I felt pampered!

Roasting Smores at Smugglers Notch

 We tasted all kinds of fruity wines and hard ciders at Boyden Family Winery (simply beautiful) and picked the perfect Cabot Cheese (more on that in a future post) to go with it. Did I mention we were in the coolest old barn, built in1875? Someday, I want a barn. 

We tasted Lake Champlain Chocolates together and shared laughs (thanks to Janice – part of the dynamic duo (and Liz!) that is Meal Makeover Moms and Diane from Cape Fear Nutrition who shared the love on her blog with this post – so special).  

Isn’t that what families do? They share meals together, they laugh together and make memories together. I am so grateful for this new found blogging family!

It couldn’t have happened without these really amazing Blog Brûlée founders:

Blog Brulee Founders

Gretchen – from Kumquat, a registered dietitian that blogs on gluten-free…

Deanna – from Teaspoon of Spice, a registered dietitian (and my mentor!) who blogs with her friend Serena on lots of fun food from the kitchen…

Robin – from Robin’s Bite, a registered dietitian who has a great blog series on “What’s in the Frig” – think of MTV’s old show Cribs – frig style…

Regan – from Healthy Aperture, a registered dietitian who blogs on healthy foods that will still make you drool…

Or these amazing sponsors:

Cabot Cheese

Welch’s

Safe Eggs

Smugglers’ Notch

Boyden Family Winery

The Soyfoods Council

Kashi

American Lamb

I hope you bring your family into the kitchen with you – because it’s totally worth it.  More to come from Blog Brûlée!

22 Comments

  1. Liz - Meal Makeover Mom on September 16, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    What a wonderful and thoughtful blog post. (Yikes, I’d better get cracking on mine…) You are an inspiration, my friend, and I’m so glad I had a chance to visit with you at this very special blogger conference. I do feel more like a big RD family now. As for getting kids into the kitchen cooking, I could not agree more!!

    • Jen on September 16, 2014 at 3:26 pm

      Hi Liz!
      I’ve always wanted to spend more time learning from you and this weekend was the perfect setting for that. Thank you for all you shared, it means a great deal. Looking forward to your Blog Brulee post!

  2. Kara Lydon, RD on September 16, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Love this post, Jen! Looking forward to hearing more about family time in the kitchen! SO wonderful to see you and catch-up this weekend.

    • Jen on September 16, 2014 at 3:24 pm

      Thanks Kara!
      It was such a great weekend, I learned so much, including from you! I am so glad we are on the NE newsletter team together!!

  3. McKenzie Halll on September 16, 2014 at 6:26 pm

    This blog makes me so happy, I can’t even tell you. So happy we shared a room and became friends!

    • Jen on September 17, 2014 at 9:51 pm

      Me too, McKenzie! Can’t forget our talks and laughs!

  4. Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasild on September 16, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    Oh this post encompasses everything Robin, Regan, Gretchen & I wanted to provide to all of you….and then some. I’m going to so enjoy seeing how you continue to evolve with your career and blog, my friend – already enjoying the ride!!

    • Jen on September 17, 2014 at 9:52 pm

      Thanks Deanna! I’m still in awe of all of you as founders and the wonderful conference you put together for us!

  5. Meal Makeover Mom Janice on September 17, 2014 at 9:17 am

    I want to go back!! Great recap of the flavor of the weekend. Great getting to know you. 🙂

    • Jen on September 17, 2014 at 9:53 pm

      Thanks Janice!

  6. diane on September 18, 2014 at 5:35 am

    Jen, You nailed it!

    • Jen on September 18, 2014 at 6:31 am

      Thanks Diane, that means a lot!

  7. Min on September 19, 2014 at 5:48 am

    Aww this is such a sweet post, Jen! Cooking and eating truly brings people together, and it certainly did for us. I want a barn someday too 😉

    • Jen on September 19, 2014 at 5:55 am

      Hi Min!
      Thank you so much – I only wish I was able to spend more time with you this past weekend! We can be “barn dreamers” together!! I even have some ideas pinned on my Pinterest boards 🙂

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  11. Ann Dunaway Teh (@anndunawayteh) on September 24, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Love this, Jen! And so glad you re-found your focus! I had a wonderful time with you and look forward to seeing you again soon but also what all you create as you re-focus!!

  12. Jessica @ Nutritioulicious on October 13, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    Jen, what a great recap and I so agree with you about how easy it is to lose focus on similar to you, why I started my blog and the direction of my company as well! So many great take-aways from a wonderful, inspiring, and educational weekend!

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