Family Style Dining - All You Can Eat at Wright's Farm Restaurant in Harrisville, Rhode Island

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The traditional family style dinner where folks gather around a large table, dining on course after course with unlimited servings is a popular pursuit for native Rhode Islanders and out-of-towners who wing it to our poultry palaces. Chicken family style, an all you can eat meal comprised of salad doused with Italian dressing, rolls, pasta (shells, ziti, or penne), and roasted potatoes or fries with those legs, breasts, or thighs, is one big Italian Job pulled inside the confines of the smallest state in the Union. Several restaurants which offer this unique tradition of dining share common attributes: their once humble abode expanded to a huge banquet facility capable of accommodating more than 1,000 patrons at one sitting; banquet rooms with elegant names resemble barrack mess halls flanked by walls bordered with floral wallpaper and painted in shades of sage green, mauve, or burgundy.

When families get together to celebrate milestones like birthdays and weddings, a family style, all you can eat chicken dinner is the preferred sit down. Those worth flocking to include: Lancellotta's Banquet Restaurant, 1113 Charles St.,North Providence; Lombardi's 1025 Club, 1025 Plainfield St., Johnston; Twelve Acres, 5 Douglas Pike, Smithfield; The Bocce Club st louis ave woonsocket West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom St., West Warwick. The restaurant most seem to cluck about, flying the coop far and wide to patronize is Wright's Farm Restaurant, 84 Inman Rd., Harrisville.

Gene Wright, the main supplier of chickens for The Bocce Club, began outdoor dinner events for the Knights of Columbus and other organizations out of a garage on his farm in Harrisville in the early 1950s. He'd cut feed barrels in half lengthwise and used them as makeshift chicken barbecues. In 1954, Wright took a customer's suggestion and opened up a restaurant-Wright's Farm Restaurant.

Purchased by the Frank T. Galleshaw, Jr. family in 1972, Wright's Farm Restaurant has steadily expanded operations to six dining rooms and has become a landmark in northern Rhode Island. Sprawled on a pastoral setting, the place still has farm appeal, while its manicured lawn encourages an after dinner stroll. A large gift shop and toy store with a vast array of items is a browser's delight while waiting to be seated inside one of its six dining rooms.

As lovely as these accommodations may be, it's what gets carried out of the kitchen that wows all the birds of a feather who flock to Wright's Farm Restaurant on a Thursday and Friday 4 pm-9pm, Saturday 12 pm-9:30 pm, or Sunday 12 pm-8 pm. The Galleshaw family motto by which their family serves other families is "quality, quantity, and consistency" at $11 per adult, $6.95 for children 4-10 years, and children 3 and under go free. Only cash or check payments are accepted. So, let the dinner begin with rolls made fresh daily in their own bakery, along with salad tossed with Wright's Farm Classic Italian Dressing. Loosen your belt for shell macaroni with tomato sauce made from their own recipe, and make room for the main entrée. I can attest their chicken is succulent and tender, while the fries are the freshest I've tasted. Two kitchens, 75 ovens, and a wait staff of more than 160, assure a constant flow of food delivered with promptness.

Wright's Farm Restaurant salad dressing, pasta and barbecue sauces, frozen chicken pies, fudge, and other Wright products can be found in grocery stores and supermarkets throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, as well as their gift shop. Wright's Farm Restaurant is a well-orchestrated Italian Job, quite capable of delivering a tasty and sumptuous all you can eat, family style chicken dinner to native Rhode Islanders and out-of-towners who gladly wing it to the boonies of Harrisville for a hearty meal.

Reunions - Food That's All in the Family

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Family reunion. Those words seem simple, but they are often loaded with emotional content, memories -- and stress. The stress of figuring out when and where everyone can get together, the stress of figuring out everything from housing arrangements to entertainment plans, and the challenge of how to feed the gathering herd with all their unique personalities and tastes. Your family may be different, but our extended family is full of relatives that get along and those that don't. In the end, the whole thing becomes an endurance trial focused around one thing -- the food.

Family reunion food is the ultimate comfort food if you grew up in the Upper Midwest. It's not fancy or specific to any ethnic heritage. Some recipes have been handed down through so many generations that reunion food has entered the realm of racial memory (the race, of course, being anyone who grew up south of the Canadian border within three hundred miles of lakes Michigan and Superior).

For the sake of those who are new to the region (remember that anyone who's been here less than 25 years is considered a newbie, so you know who you are), I compiled a primer to help you out, because sooner or later, you will be facing a table full of this stuff along with the inevitable hamburgers, hot dogs, and carbon-encrusted grilled chicken.

JELL-O[r] salad

JELL-O[r] is a food only America could invent. In 1845, industrialist Peter Cooper obtained the first patent for a gelatin dessert, later named JELL-O[r]. It never went anywhere until the rights to sell it were purchased by a patent medicine salesman named Frank Woodward. The rest is jiggley history. Americans can never leave anything alone and started experimenting with ways to make JELL-O[r] more interesting. Folks combined flavors, layered JELL-O[r] into parfaits, fluffed it, cubed it, added fruits and/or vegetables, whipped cream, mayonnaise, and God alone knows what else and called the result "salads" for lack of a better title. As a result, Aunt Mildred now brings at least two JELL-O[r] salads to every reunion made, of course, from treasured family recipes. If you were born overseas and don't have family JELL-O[r] recipes that have been passed from generation to generation, visit [http://www.JELLO.com]. There are 250 travel-friendly recipes and over 500 family party recipes just waiting for you.

Macaroni salad

We're not talking pasta salads here. Pasta salads are for people who drive fancy European cars, talk about the subtle, unassuming, yet complex bouquet of their latest wine purchase, and own Afghan Hounds or Labradoodles named Pooky. No, we're talkin' elbow macaroni with mayonnaise and additives like peas, canned tuna, or cheese. If you heat these up, they become a hot dish. At a reunion they are to be served cold -- in Tupperware[r]. Most macaroni salad recipes are family heirlooms or come out of those cookbooks put together by church ladies. You can also go to http://www.mayo.com where the friendly folks at Hellman's offer four macaroni salads including Traditional Macaroni Salad and the more exotic Neptune Pasta Salad.

Cole slaw

Cole slaw is usually one of the best things to eat at a reunion because it's so hard to mess up. Combine cabbage, carrots, and slaw dressing (sometimes homemade, but often bottled) and mix. Folks with fancy airs might add raisins, caraway seeds, or a little red cabbage for color. The only thing that's hard to get right is quantity. For some reason, cole slaw always expands to fill the available space and beyond until the only container that will hold it all is a wheelbarrow. Our favorite bottled cole slaw dressing is Marzetti's. If you are looking for those fancy versions, there are a number of tasty recipes at http://www.marzetti.com.

Pork and beans

Some folks might try to tell you they're baked beans but we all know those beans came straight out of a can. The telltale sign is always that little cube of pork fat that makes it legal to call it pork and beans and not just beans. Some people try to dress them up, but breeding will tell. For reunion food purists, the only way pork and beans should be served is lukewarm.

BUSH'S Baked Beans (www.bushbeans.com) has a wide variety of flavors and there's even a recipe on their website for Sweet Baked Beans Pasta Salad that includes elbow macaroni and chunks of cheese. How much more basic can you get?

Dessert bars

Apparently there is too much pressure to get ready for a family reunion to bake cookies or cakes so the Dessert du Jour is invariably several varieties of dessert bars. Dessert bars are divided into three types: brownie, pudding, and cookie and can range in consistency from chewing on toasted particle board to sticky with the cohesive force of Gorilla Glue[r]. Getting some of them out of the pan requires an air hammer. Here's a piece of advice. The cuter the name, the worse they'll be. Try to avoid eating "Suzy's Goody Gumdrop Apricot Extravaganza Bars." Dessert bars travel well and are simple to make as the 925 bar recipes and 243 brownie recipes at http://www.AllRecipes.com prove.

The last thing I'll mention is what makes the rest tolerable. It's not technically food but I'm willing to stretch the point. It lets you tolerate Uncle Phil's jokes that you've heard at every reunion since you were allowed to join adult conversations. It gets you past all the "the last time I saw you, you were this tall" events (including the cheek pinch). I am, of course, talking about reunion beer. It's the cheapest beer that can be found, but after a while you don't care. It all gets better. Somebody pass me "Grandma's Disappearing Magic Marshmallow Carmel Fudgey Brownies."

Family Activities For Summer

Nobody likes to be stuck in a house all day, especially when the weather is beautiful outside! Grab your family and find something interesting and entertaining to do. Use your imagination and explore the wonders of Summer.

There are many fun activities to do, and even more when there is a lake or forest close. You could go camping... yes, tents, sleeping bags, flashlights and lanterns, cooking over the fire, and the whole nine yards. It really is not as bad as you would think. Sure the ground can be a little hard, and you might get a little cold. All in all though, it is an awesome experience. Lying underneath the stars and just watching them is very calming.

Another thing kids and adults love to do in the summer is to go swimming, so do it often and have fun as a family. Whether it is a pool or a lake get everyone together and go swimming as a family outing. You can take inner tubes, water balls, diving rings, almost any water toy and play a game and have fun with it. What else matters besides fun when you are having a family outing?

Other water activities could also be fun, for instance, who doesn't love boating? Letting the wind whip through your hair, or diving off the back of a boat and swimming is major excitement for everyone. There are many things you can do while boating. Skiing, barefoot or with skis, tubing, water boarding, and wave boarding are some. You can do activities or just sit back for the ride. Either way it is always nice to spend a little quality time with the ones you love and care for.

Kids love animals, so take them to the zoo. What other place can you get to see exotic animals, feed the animals, watch them feed themselves, and play? The bears, tigers, lions, alligators, snakes, oh my, are so exciting. The zoo will have everyone in the family jumping for joy. After the zoo you could always take a walk in the park. Not only is this helping you exercise but gives you a chance to talk as a family. While in the park help your kids to fly a kite. Watching a kite fly up so high in the air always catches little one's eyes. After you are done flying a kite maybe you hear a tummy growl. Have a picnic! With sandwiches, pickles, potato salad, macaroni salad, and whatever other yummy treat can fit in your picnic basket. Eating outside is always a reward.

Summer break doesn't always have to bore your children or you either in fact. You just have to find activities you and your family love to do together. Even turning simple chores into games can be entertaining and fun, plus you getting housework done in the process. So when summer hits this year, you now know how to plan a family outing.

Planning a Family Reunion - Food, Food, Food!

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Planning a family reunion involves putting a lot of details together into one complete package. It takes time to do it right, but the rewards are worth it. Planning what kinds of food will be available to attendees is a big part of the job of any reunion coordinator. Many families choose to have covered dish events, so the food responsibility doesn't fall on just one person. Other families have their events catered. One theme that is fairly common throughout family reunions is to serve food that is traditional in that particular family, or to use the old recipes of family members from the past. This makes the event more meaningful and memorable to all who attend.

If you're catering and want to use traditional family recipes at your reunion, you'll need to hand these recipes (or copies of them) over to the caterer. Otherwise, assigning single dishes to different attendees is a good idea. For example, if you all shared the same great-grandmother, making a buffet table full of her old recipes will enable you each to feel a special connection to your family's progenitor, while helping put the reunion together.

There are some kinds of food that seem to be present at family reunions, no matter what family is holding the event. Any kind of dessert based on Jello is popular. So are cold salads, such as the potato and macaroni varieties. Carrot salad is also a big player on the reunion scene. Someone inevitably brings a casserole of some kind, usually made with potato chips or saltine cracker crumbs. There are pies of all sorts, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, and cold sodas. Ambitious family members may make seltzer-infused fruit punches, as well. More formal events might feature a turkey or ham as the centerpiece of the event.

The important thing to remember when planning a family reunion is to delegate the food. Most reunions have a minimum of 25 people present, so to expect anyone to cook a dozen or more dishes for that many people is unrealistic. By delegating, or catering, the event, everyone has a better time, and most importantly, everyone eats!

Stocking the Kitchen For Convenient and Healthy Family Meals

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A well-stocked kitchen can make the decision between cooking a healthy meal at home or running out for fast food or take-out. Here are some staples for the pantry that should always be on the grocery list and in your kitchen, so preparing snacks and planning meals is simple and convenient.

For the Refrigerator
Pre-cooked chicken and meats - already grilled or steamed. Ready to add to pasta, salads, stews, stir frys, and fajitas.

Pre-cut vegetables and fruits - found in the fresh produce section of supermarket. Veggies are perfect for stir frys and pastas. Fruits are ready for snacking, salads or smoothies.

Shredded cheeses - found in the cheese or deli section of supermarket. Great way to save time when making your favorite Italian and Mexican dishes.

Fresh dips and salsas - found in cheese and meat sections of supermarket. Can spice up sandwiches, raw vegetables, crackers, pasta, and baked potatoes. Store in freezer or refrigerator for last minute get-togethers, meals and snacks.

Pizza and bread dough - found in the freezer or refrigerator section of supermarket. Let each family member create their own meal with lots of healthy topping options.

Dairy Products
Choose pasteurized, whole milk and dairy products for those under 5 years old. Some pediatricians say to cut back on whole milk products as young as 3 years old, and introduce low and skim milk options. Be sure to check dates on packages to be sure you're getting the freshest and longest lasting.

Yogurt - particularly plain yogurt which you can add your own fruit and purees. For those under one year, be sure the yogurt is made from whole milk and active cultures. Soy yogurt is an option for those who are lactose intolerant. Plain yogurt is also a good base for salad dressings, smoothies, sauces and a healthy alternative to sour cream for topping baked potatoes, and Mexican foods.

Milk - you may have a few different types of milk (whole, low fat and non-fat) for family members based on age and diet. Soy and rice milk are also good alternatives, especially for those with allergies and lactose intolerance. Have on hand for drinking, making smoothies and baking.

Cheeses - soft cream cheese makes great dips and spreads for all ages. Adding calcium to your family's diet is as easy as sprinkling fresh parmesan over pastas and vegetables. Cheddar cheese is always welcome for sandwiches and homemade macaroni and cheese. Cottage, ricotta and goat cheeses can be part of a healthy meal or snack. Pre-shredded and grated cheeses are very convenient for Italian and Mexican favorites.

Eggs - eggs can make all kinds of quick meals by themselves - omelets, egg salad, frittatas and quiches. Some kids think "breakfast for dinner" is a fun family meal. Choose cage free and organic for the least exposure to harmful bacteria.

For the Freezer
Fresh is usually best for taste and nutrients, however frozen can be convenient stand-by. Frozen items such as peas and blueberries make convenient finger foods for older babies and toddlers. Frozen poultry, meats and fish will create all kinds of meals.

Don't forget to use the freezer for left-overs and storage to create your own convenient "frozen dinners". Your baby's purees, as well as sauces and broths store beautifully in ice cube trays and zip top bags.

For the Pantry
Dried Foods
Bread, grains and pastas are good sources of carbohydrates that can be the basis for a quick and healthy meal. Some dried beans and legumes require more cooking time and preparation but are economical and healthy.

Pasta - this can be any shape or size, so you're ready to make spaghetti, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, udon, and soups. Best choices are egg-less noodles for those under 12 months and wheat semolina for those over 12 months.

Dried Grains - these include couscous, quinoa, polenta and risotto. These make good side dishes to meats and fish dishes as well as appropriate main dish with steamed vegetables or stews. A good staple for Indian and Mediterranean dishes.

Beans and legumes - these include lentils, red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, and white beans. You're prepared for healthy dips such as hummus and black bean, as well as side dishes, soups and salads.

Breads - including pita, multi-grain, lavosh, bagels, and tortillas. Different breads allow for various stuffings. Create healthy pizzas, burritos, wraps, sandwiches and more.

Rice - infant rice for first meals and to mix in with vegetable and fruit purees. Brown rice makes a good and healthy companion for Asian stir fry, and Mexican dishes.

Dried fruits - these are great healthy snacks alone, as well as good mix-ins for yogurt, granola, oatmeal, and cottage cheese.

Breakfast cereals - these include muesli, granola, low sugar cereals, oat bran, wheat germ, and oatmeal. It's also easy to make your own cereal mix by simply combining your favorite grains such as rolled oats, toasted wheat germ, and oat bran with dried fruit.

Canned and Jarred Foods
Some canned foods are high in fat, sodium and sugar, but many are also high in nutritional value. Check the labels to identify those with the least additives. These include: light tuna in water, organic natural nut butters, all-fruit spread, beans, and tomatoes. Be sure to thoroughly rinse canned beans and vegetables to eliminate extra sodium and oils. Remember low sodium broths and stocks for poaching and boiling meats and vegetables, as well as creating your own soups.

Condiments and Spices
A good supply of bottled sauces, condiments, oils, herbs and spices will allow for lots of creativity. Ingredients such as naturally brewed soy sauce, mustards, ketchup, salad dressings, tomato paste, and Worcheshire give flavor to many dishes as well as create many dips and sandwich spread options.
Use healthy oils such as olive and canola for cooking and baking as well as preparing dressings and marinades. Vinegars such as balsamic are also a good way to add flavor. Remember to refrigerate after opening.

Herbs and spices are best when fresh, but even dried can wake-up a boring food. If possible buy whole herbs and grind them yourself (a clean coffee grinder works well) for maximum flavor.

The family meal

The family meal has been in a family environment in constant evolution. Moms and dads, business and most of the houses are houses with only one parent. This worrying trend can be a joy to take-out restaurants, but has negative effects on family and children.

Studies have shown that obesity among children less, are drugs, alcohol and smoking among children who eat dinner with the family.

It 'hard to get into a home-cooked food when times getbusy. Children have busy schedules with sports, friends and parents to work longer. There are a couple of things to do, can help make family meals easier to achieve.

Before disconnecting the old crock pot. It can be used for the old standby, like stews, but can also be used for crock pot lasagna or macaroni and cheese.

Go for the adoption and take home. Stop in your family's favorite restaurant and dinner to go. IfWell, you take home food from the conduct of boxing and serve the dish. Sitting on a nutritious cooked meal that is served at the table on your plate.

Finally, if the family is really a salad, pizza, wings, and dinner. Then take them home and sit at the table to eat. This is a new variant, but is much better for the family at the table to eat while watching television.

Stocking the kitchen for a pleasant and healthy family meal

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A well-equipped kitchen, the choice between cooking a healthy meal at home or just for fast food or take-out can be done. Here are some staples for the pantry, which should always be on the shopping list and in the kitchen, planning for the preparation of snacks and meals is easy and convenient.

For the refrigerator
Pre-cooked chicken meat - already grilled or steamed. Ready to add to pasta, salads, casseroles, stir Frys and fajitas.

Pre-cut fruits and vegetables - in observedFresh produce section of supermarkets. Vegetarians are ideal for moving Frys and pasta. The fruits are ready for snacks, salads and smoothies.

Grated cheese - found in the cheese or deli section of supermarkets. Good way to save time when your favorite Italian dishes and Mexican.

Fresh dips and sauces - in cheese and meat sections of supermarkets found. Can spice up sandwiches, raw vegetables, crackers, pasta and baked potatoes. Store in refrigerator or freezer for last minuteMeetings, meals and snacks.

Pizza and bread dough - found in the refrigerator or freezer supermarket. Let each family member to create your own food with many healthy options increase.

Milk
Choose pasteurized whole milk and milk products for children under 5 years. Some pediatricians say they cut back on dairy products under the age of 3 years, and the introduction of low and options of skimmed milk. Make sure that the data packets to verify that you are getting thecooler and more durable.

Yogurt - especially yogurt, which you can add your fruit and puree as possible. Certainly, for those of a year that is whole milk yogurt and active cultures. Soy yogurt is an option for those who are lactose intolerant. Natural yoghurt is also a good base for salad dressings, smoothies, sauces and a healthy alternative to cream for garnish, baked potatoes and Mexican food.

Milk - you can use several different types of milk (whole,low-fat and fat-free) to family members by age and diet. Soy milk and rice are good alternatives, particularly for people with allergies and lactose intolerance. Are on hand for drinking, making smoothies and baking.

Cheese - cream cheese make great dips and spreads for all ages. Addition of calcium in the diet of your family is as simple as sprinkling of Parmesan cheese over pasta and fresh vegetables. Cheddar cheese is always welcome, sandwiches and homemade pasta and cheese.Cottage, ricotta and goat cheese can be part of a meal or a healthy snack. Pre-shredded and grated cheeses are very convenient for Italian food and Mexican.

Eggs - Eggs can do all kinds of fast food per se - omelettes, egg salad, omelets and quiches. Some children think "Breakfast for dinner" is a fun family dinner. Choose a cage free and organic load for the bacteria less harmful.

For the freezer
Fresh is usually best for flavor and nutrients, butcan be frozen, convenient stand-by. The frozen products, such as peas and blueberries are easy to finger foods for older infants and young children. Frozen poultry, meat and fish to produce all kinds of dishes.

Do not forget to use the freezer for leftovers and storage to create their own convenience "frozen dinners" for. Puree your baby, as well as sauces and broths Ice Cube Trays Save beautiful and zip top bags.

For pantry
Dry food
Bread, cereals and pasta are good sourcesCarbohydrates may be that the basis for fast and healthy meal. Some dried beans and legumes require more cooking time and preparation, but are inexpensive and healthy.

Pasta - that every shape and size, so you're ready, spaghetti, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, making Udon, and soups. The best decisions are egg noodles less for children under 12 months and durum wheat for about 12 months.

Dried grains - couscous, quinoa, polenta and risotto are. These areGood side dishes of meat and fish, as well as the main course of the case with steamed vegetables or stews. A good staple food for the Indian and Mediterranean cuisine.

Beans and pulses - lentils, beans, chickpeas, beans, blacks, white beans. They are prepared for a healthy dips like hummus and bean blacks, and side dishes, soups and salads.

Bread - even Pita, Multi Grain, lavosh, bagels and tortillas. Various types of bread can be used for different fillings.Creating a healthy pizza, burritos, wraps, sandwiches and more.

Rice - son for the first meal of rice and mix with vegetables and mashed fruit. Brown rice provides a good companion and healthy wok for Asian and Mexican dishes.

Nuts - these are great healthy snacks alone, and a good mix-in for yogurt, cereal, oatmeal and cottage cheese.

Breakfast cereals - this cereal, granola, cereals, sugars are low, oatmeal, wheat germ and oatmeal. It 'also easy tomaking your own cereal mix just the preferred combination of cereals such as oats, wheat germ and toasted oat bran with dried fruit.

Canned and jarred foods
Some are highly conserved in fat, sodium and sugar, but many are also high nutritional value. Check the labels to identify those with less additives. These include: natural light tuna in water, organic nut butters, all-fruit jam, beans and tomatoes. Be sure to rinse the beans and canned vegetableseliminate extra sodium and oil. Remember, low in sodium for the manufacture of stock for poaching and boiling meat and vegetables, as well as creating your own soups.

Spices and herbs
A good supply of bottled sauces, spices, oils, herbs and spices, is the creativity of many. Naturally produced ingredients like soy sauce, mustard, ketchup, salad dressing, tomato, and Worcheshire give flavor to many dishes as well as many dips and spreads to create options.
Use healthy oils like olive and canola oil for cooking and cooking and preparation of sauces and marinades. Balsamic vinegar, as well as a good way to add flavor. Remember to keep in the refrigerator after opening.

Herbs and spices are best when fresh but can also be dried wake a boring meal. If possible, purchase plants and grind yourself (a clean coffee grinder works well) for maximum flavor.