Itching to channel your outdoorsy side sans the mosquitoes? This season, rely on smoky baked beans to bolster your camping daydreams. Here, Cooking in Pajamas shows you how.

Are baked beans a warm comforting dish for a blustery day, or are they the perfect side dish to serve at your Summer BBQ?
In my humble opinion, they're both. Nothing says Summer to me like a cookout with burgers and hot dogs, corn on the cob, and a side of baked beans. But then again, there is nothing quite as nourishing as a bowl of warm, comforting baked beans on a cold rainy day.

Nothing makes your house smell as good as a pot of homemade beans baking in the oven. Yes, this recipe cuts a few corners by using canned beans, but the final product will taste nothing like anything out of a can.

Keep reading for her baked beans recipe

Does the Summer heat making running outdoors impossible? See the reasons why OnSugar blogger Ready to Run thinks running in the morning is the solution to your problem.

I've never been a morning person, let alone a morning runner. I've also felt that when I run in the morning, I get short of breath, my strides are uneven, and I'm more likely to get a side stitch. However, I went running in the morning a couple days this week, and although I felt pretty crap-tastic during one of my runs, I felt pretty good during my second morning run. Actually, I felt great. It was nice and cool in the a.m. (about 58 degrees), my breathing stayed pretty even, and I set a new PR [personal record] of 9 minute-per-mile! So I'm thinking that I might start running in the morning more often.

Here are some perks to morning runs:

1. It's generally cooler in the morning than it is mid-afternoon, so the morning, or running at dusk, is the best time of day to head out in the Summer, unless you enjoy being chained to your treadmill.

2. Most races take place in the morning, so you can get your body acclimated to the time of day that a race is being held.

3. If you live on a busy street, there aren't as many cars on the road at 5 a.m.

4. If you have a busy day ahead of you, you can get up early and just get your run done and out of the way, instead of waiting until later in the day, and then having to skip your workout.

5. Morning workouts actually help you wake up so that you're more alert throughout the rest of the day.

If that doesn't give you a reason to head out in the morning, I don't know what will! I'm off to run the Worcester Firefighters Memorial 6k, will post a recap within the next few days!

Check out more running tips at Ready to Run, and if you're inspired, then start your own blog using our OnSugar platform! Get started here.

Here's a post from OnSugar blog Smorgasbord:

Here is a look at our new home spa! Brace yourself. The before photos are pretty grim . . .

Yes, that is plastic tile you see. Now from the other side . . .

Read more to see the beautifully renovated spa!

We're madly jealous of Food Orleans's recent meal at the chef's table in the storied Commander's Palace in New Orleans; a visit to this lavish restaurant has been on our travel bucket list for years!

This is Commander's Palace. If it looks like a fairytale building, that's because it is. It's a place where stories are told, surprises happen at any minute, and everyone works together to entertain you and take care of everything you could possibly want. Prepare to be a princess, in other words.

Any time you eat at Commander's, it's special; from brunch on any Sunday to lunch on Thursday to dinner on Saturday night. But the best times to eat there are on holidays, like Thanksgiving, or special occasions: the birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries that are the most important days in the story of your life. I had a big ol' birthday this month; I turned 40. All I wanted was to eat at the Chef's Table at Commander's, and Paul, my wonderful love, he made it happen.

The Chef's Table is the ultimate experience of what Commander's Palace really does, which is nothing short of magic. The table is in the kitchen, right behind the grill line; you're not sheltered away in a corner — you're right in the middle of it. And the Commander's kitchen is quiet, controlled, and all business. As the sous chef, Jason Wells, who prepared most of our dishes that night explained to us (above), you can easily have a conversation in the Commander's kitchen, because there's no yelling. It's not like any other restaurant kitchen I've ever seen or heard of, save The French Laundry or Daniel or other places in the top tier of restaurants in the world. And the theatre of the kitchen is part of the experience of sitting at the Chef's Table.

Read more about her epic meal.

Here's a post from the OnSugar blog House of Anaïs:

Sticks are a cute and fun way to create a modern screen - fit for both indoor and outdoor spaces. They have a sleek design but at the same time are very natural with an old-fashioned feel.

Like what you see? Start following House of Anaïs to read more! Or start your own OnSugar blog and maybe it will be featured here as well!

Between the Bread muses that while there's a time and a place for everything, a sandwich (or any meal truly) with a polished pedigree does not always beat out its simplified counterpart.

I've been on a salmon sandwich kick lately, and suddenly I'm finding them everywhere, including on my first visit to Wayfare Tavern. During a rainy lunch, I ordered the salmon club sandwich and a Pimm's Cup.

Featuring avocado-basil aioli, roasted tomato, and bacon on brioche, the sandwich was pretty yummy. Frankly, I'd pay $17 to spend every rainy afternoon at this cozy, bucolic tavern.

But while the fish was outstanding, the sandwich itself didn't seem worth $17 — especially compared to this salmon sammie I enjoyed at an impromptu barbecue in a friend's backyard.

Yes, it's much simpler, but the salmon was just as well-cooked, grilled just enough by my personal chefs, and served on a soft bun with avocado.

I'm not saying one sandwich is necessarily superior to the other — just that simpler and cheaper can be just as good.

Want more? Start following Between the Bread, then get to work on your own food blog. You could wind up featured here.

For a different take on dessert popcorn, Life Above the Clouds demonstrates how to make corn pop with melted marshmallows.

Holy shmoly this stuff is delicious! It's caramel popcorn plus marshmallow goodness, and there's nothing wrong with that in my opinion! I was looking for a quick afternoon snack, and thankfully I just stocked up on marhsmallows for the Summer (can you say s'mores?). My only problem with this recipe is that it doesn't harden like regular caramel popcorn does, so I ate the gooey mess with a fork.

For more pictures and the recipe, keep reading.

For food lovers who embrace the local and sustainable eating philosophy, Oustanding in the Field is a rare opportunity to literally experience farm-to-table (or shall we say table-to-farm?) dining. Here, Fresh Tart gives us a look at one such event in Minnesota.

Tickets for Outstanding in the Field 2012 — August 9, at Little Foot Farm in Afton, Minnesota — are on sale. I bought a ticket and then thought, Hey! I should post the pictures I took at the 2011 event, at Riverbend Farm in Delano . . . last July . . .

Yeah. In fact I have several pretty posts in the queue, waiting for me to dust them off and share them. I guess it takes a looming one-year anniversary to kick my butt into gear.

For more pictures — including those of the farm and, of course, the lovely Summer food! — keep reading.

Just as wonderful as eating Summer produce, Love in a Bowl demonstrates, is growing fresh Summer produce. Here, she shares some of her favorite garden-driven grub.

Summer is here once again. Although I have neglected my recipes, I certainly have not neglected my kitchen. My two little boys are eating me out of house and home! We planted a garden again this year. Really, we felt we had little choice. The extra sun that resulted from the removal of a shade tree, and the compost we have been making, have turned out to be a true culinary blessing. It is only the first week of June and we are overrun with squash, zucchini, half-runner green beans, and cucumbers! The cayennes and tomatoes aren't too far behind and my okra plants have just begun to blossom! Amazingly enough, the other corner of my little yard in the city is so cool and damp that it's still producing the most delicious lettuces and swiss chard! I am truly in Heaven. As the squash and zucchini begin to fill my kitchen, I am reminded of this world of recipes that I have been neglecting.

Tonight my husband is re-creating my squash casserole and we have revisited my zucchini bread recipe. I haven't made a frozen lasagna yet, but I did manage to create a shrimp pasta that got great reviews. My oldest son has a fondness for shrimp, so I decided to combine shrimp, zucchini, squash, angel hair pasta, and a fabulous pesto!

Read ahead to get the recipe.

Here's a post from OnSugar blog House of Anaïs:

Recently we attended a little party at friends house, and I just loved the way the hostess had used coffee sacks as accents in the garden. Such a simple and easy to realize idea, where the outcome is really great!

Like what you see? Start following House of Anaïs to read more! Or start your own OnSugar blog and maybe it will be featured here as well!

A sandwich of asparagus and mushrooms could be kind of dull — or, as Between the Bread demonstrates, it could be a triumphant lesson in culinary restraint.

Ann Arbor's famed Zingerman's Deli is known for its corned beef sandwiches, but it's also not shy when it comes to packing on farmers market fresh veggies.

This recipe, dubbed Rodger's Big Picnic, comes from my trusty Roadfood Sandwiches cookbook, which describes this sandwich as Zingerman's ode to Michigan produce and particularly asparagus.

Putting this recipe together, I worried it would be too dull. The mushrooms are just broiled, not marinated, and the sandwich is adorned with nothing but sharp cheddar and Dijon mustard.

But with perfectly cooked, totally fresh produce, two ingredients are all you need. The sandwich was unexpectedly graceful, simple yet full-bodied, and hard to put down.

For the recipe, keep reading.

Looking for an elegant yet simple way to serve cauliflower? Look no further than Fresh Tart's gluten-free version of cauliflower gratin.

Perhaps it's cliche that I read MFK Fisher's The Gastronomical Me and wanted to immerse myself in the world of food, but that's OK. Who wouldn't want to do exactly that after reading that sexy, scrumptious book? My goodness that woman could write, my mouth waters (and my heart swoons) just thinking about it.

There's one passage in particular that has had me making simple cauliflower gratins for years. I purposely don't look back at the specifics, I just count on how incredible she made cauliflower roasted with cream and Gruyere sound, swiped through with crusty bread and enjoyed with cold wine.

Lord.

So here's my version, so simple, so completely gluten-free, so much better than the pasta dish I served to Nathan and John tonight (in my opinion). I threw in some arugula leaves this evening because I had them, but you wouldn't need to include them.

Keep reading for an elemental cauliflower gratin recipe.

Like the perfect handbag, a well-constructed potato galette is perfect for any time of day or occasion. Just ask Fresh Tart!

A potato galette is simply thin slices of potatoes, fat, and seasoning layered into a shallow pan and roasted until crusty and browned. It's traditional to serve alongside a roast of some sort, and definitely do that, because you can imagine crusty, buttery potatoes do a fine job of soaking up meaty juices of almost any type.

But a potato galette also makes a killer meal all on its own, particularly alongside (or underneath!) a tart arugula salad. In fact, invite people over if you make one, otherwise . . . you will eat the whole thing by yourself. As healthful as a tart arugula salad is, it will not offset the regret of eating an entire galette on your own; I know this from experience.

Learn more about the art of the potato galette.

We never would've thought of fried green tomato parmesan (that credit goes to Food Orleans), but now that the idea's entered our minds, there's only one real way to resolve our craving.

Because I love them so, I've written a couple of love letters to fried green tomatoes over the years: the fried green tomato caprese "salad" I made without remorse, and fried green tomato BLTs, a longtime favorite. Green tomatoes are so good when fried, I think a lot of folks never try them other ways, like in a salsa or gazpacho. I really, really want to use them in recipes like that. I really do! But when I think of them fried, I just can't resist.

It just so happens that fried green tomatoes work extremely well in a "parmesan" or a casserole of breaded, fried something (usually eggplant or chicken) layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. The tomatoes are a little tangy, so they add a lot of character to the dish, but they're also a lot easier to fry than eggplant, which always soaks up so much oil. The tomatoes stand up to frying and still soften without a lot of oil, so you actually end up with something quite a bit lighter here than eggplant parmesan. Which is a total lagniappe, if you ask me.

The recipe, and step-by-step photos, when you keep reading.

Not-quite-soft-boiled, not-quite-hard-boiled eggs get the special treatment in this otherworldly sandwich creation from OnSugar blog Between the Bread.

My houseboy has been on a soft-boiled egg kick lately — or maybe you'd call them gently boiled eggs, because the whites have the firmness of a hard-boiled egg, but the yolk is not quite firm, not quite runny. On sandwiches, they are a revelation.

After a recent egg-boiling session, we put together this twist on a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich. The trio of crisped prosciutto, manchego cheese, and gooey egg provided a fascinating flavor and texture combination — salty, creamy, and reminiscent of some of the best parts of French and Italian sandwich concepts.

Like a good club sandwich, the balance of firm ingredients (toast, hard cheese) with moist (egg, mustard) made it all too easy to eat. This reinvention will most definitely be repeated.

Want more? Start following Between the Bread, then get to work on your own food blog. Your gastronomic adventures could wind up featured here.

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and Jo Aaron is one of them. Here is one of the latest posts to her Mommy Brain blog.

While innocently looking for a restaurant suggestion online the other day, I stumbled across an anti-parent, anti-child blog entry that just annoyed me. It was an angry (and narrow-minded, in my opinion) piece about how awful it is when this particular person has to dine with families at his favorite restaurants. He/she literally suggested that families shouldn't be allowed to dine in restaurants at all, and most definitely not the ones that are any good.

Here are my guesses:

#1, this person is somewhere between 21-26.

#2, this person will have a completely different blog in about 5-10 years when he/she has kids of his/her own and realizes that going out for dinner is like parental heroin . . . you know, your fix is having someone else prepare and clean up your meal while all you have to do is watch the kids and make sure they don't drive the other patrons nuts. Because that's the easy part. Right.

So, while I get that I shouldn't be carting my kids off to the Pump Room for a 9PM Saturday night reservation, I don't think it's such a crime to have them enjoy a 5:30PM reservation at a local haunt regardless of how cool and trendy it is this week. Instead of digitally flicking this guy or gal off by replying to his/her post, instead I thought I'd make a list of all of the ways that the world would be a better place for those of us with kids . . . maybe this will drive it home:

• If the world revolved around families, there would be no such thing as lines at the grocery store. Instead of spending 15 minutes telling our kids to stop touching everything in the checkout line, like candy, magazines, or batteries, we'd just breeze through the aisles, yell our credit card numbers out to the teller as we beelined to our cars. No fuss, no muss.
• If the world revolved around families, there would be a Starbucks with dozens of drive-thru windows and on-duty baristas somewhere between my house and school.
• If the world revolved around families, there would be TVs with DVD players and current Disney movies playing in every waiting room in the United States. This includes all airport terminals as well. And speaking of airports...
• If the world revolved around families, there would be such a thing as teleportation like on Star Trek (yes, I'm a nerd), so that families would never, never, never, ever have to deal with air travel at all.
• If the world revolved around families, no one with kids would ever have to go to the DMV, post office, or emergency room.

Keep reading for more of Jo Aaron's funny observations!