Sweeps Programming Includes Special Kids Show; Easy Summer Recipes;

NEW YORK, July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tune in every day this summer to the Emmy Award-winning television series Martha Stewart Living for great ideas for enjoying the hot days of summer. Keep cool -- and keep the kids entertained -- with weeks full of fun summer projects. Join us for new segments showcasing Martha Stewart Living's "how-to" approach toward kids, gardening, food, easy entertaining, decorating, fitness and petkeeping.

Chill Out Week (July 14-18)

On Monday, keep cool in the kitchen with great ideas for summer salads. Todd Koons, a former chef and founder of Epic Roots in Salinas, CA, a farm that grows and delivers greens and vegetables for chefs and home cooks, stops by to prepare Mache, Prosciutto & Parsnip Chip Salad and Romaine, Celery & Parmesan Salad.

On Tuesday, beat the heat with a tasty Shredded Chicken Salad from MSO's new Everyday Food magazine. Later, petkeeping expert Marc Morrone introduces a few of his favorite dog toys, from the virtually indestructible Kong to the good ole' tennis ball. If you work up a sweat playing with the dog, you'll be ready to make your own frozen yogurt. Later, is it too hot to garden in the sun? Darrell Probst of Garden Vision Nursery in Hubbardston, MA, visits Martha to plant some of his wonderful Epimediums - a semi-evergreen groundcover that thrives in the shade.

Step out on the beach with style this summer. On Wednesday, Martha Stewart Living stylist Jocelyn Worrall creates chic summer beach bags using just a towel, velcro and ribbon. Then, be unique in the sun with flip flops you can decorate yourself. Get in shape for swimming with trainer Lisa Lynn's ideas for targeting the gluteus maximus, the muscles that make for a better behind.

On Thursday, learn about collecting antique planters from Ann Rowe of Sugarplum Antiques in New Hampshire. Then, celebrate apricots with a recipe for Apricot Chicken, Apricot Jam 101 and a visit to the apricot harvest at Eden Garden. And Marc Morrone introduces the Maine Coon Cat breed, one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. Some say it's the "dog lover's cat" because of its people-loving personality.

Mid-summer garden slump? On Friday, shop for the healthiest of young plants with Ellen Talmage from Talmage Farms on Long Island, NY. Then, the incredibly talented designer Mariette Gomez shows how to spruce up a room by decorating with art -- you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a big impression! And Bill Cullina from Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA, joins Martha to show some of his favorite ferns for containers. Did you know that fern species have been around for more than 300 million years? Today there are about twelve thousand species in the world -- that's a lot to choose from!

Backyard Activities Week (July 21-25)

What could be more summer-y than a bushel full of fun backyard activities? On Monday, Martha Stewart Living is throwing a garden party. We've got great ideas for invitations, a simple garden party rose arrangement, and the best party food. Treat your guests right with a delicious herbed pate brisee, a pastry that's just right for a tomato tart or tasty savory turnovers (such as a wonderful Escarole Tart). And, of course, every party deserves a refreshing drink. A Peach Fizz, with just the right amount of sweetness, captures the essence of summer.

Tuesday is dedicated to a celebration of greens. We'll show you a hearty greens glossary, a recipe for sauteed escarole, and a green salad with ginger lime dressing. Then, plant expert Ellen Talmage returns to show off some of her favorite brightly colored (chartreuse!) foliage for shade. And learn Canoeing 101 from Bob Myron.

Wednesday brings the joys of summer flowers. Bill Cullina visits with the wonderful red flowers of native honeysuckle vines -- they also happen to be one of the most reliable hummingbird feeders around! Then, attract butterflies to your garden with special butterfly plantings, and spice up your table with a summer sampler flower arrangement.

On Thursday, we're outside in the garden. Martha demonstrates how to take cuttings of boxwood and other semi-hardwood plants.

On Friday, listen to the call of the backyard wilderness when Martha Stewart Living goes camping. Meet Mitsu Iwasaki from Outward Bound. He joins our young friends Nathanial and Ethan for Camping 101. And, so you don't get lost, Mitsu will demonstrate smart map & compass skills.

Vacations Week (July 28-August 1)

Take a vacation, you deserve it. On Monday, visit Puerto Rico for Chad Keller and Kelly Cozzens' beautiful destination wedding.

Tuesday is a celebration of all things Italian. Chef Mark Ladner visits with simple and fresh antipasto recipes from his Lupa Osteria Romana in New York City's Greenwich Village. On Martha's Favorite Books, Ross King, author of Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, discusses the fascinating history of the great artistic achievement: Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. (Well, Michelangelo and 12 assistants!)

Wednesday, take a look back at the best of Martha Stewart Living field trips, from an Oyster Roast in South Carolina to Pink's Hot Dogs in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, steep yourself in the exotic world of Japanese food, culture and art. Martha takes a trip through the world-famous Tokyo Fish Market where she witnesses the early morning fish auction, as fresh fish come in directly off the boats and are auctioned to markets and restaurateurs from all over Japan.

New Orleans is a city known for good things like music, parties and world-class cuisine. On Friday, Martha tours Hubert Sandot's Martinique Bistro where she samples succulent mussels and grouper and discusses his approach to French and Caribbean cooking. Continuing her culinary adventure, Martha meets up with Patrick Dunne, a sixth-generation Southerner and author of the Epicurean Collector.

Lazy Days of Summer Week (August 4-8)

On Monday, keep the kids entertained with a fun, easy-to-create backyard Bean Bag Toss. Then, find out how easy it is to make your own pickles. These Bread & Butter Pickles are sweet, and a little bit spicy ... the perfect accompaniment to a grilled burger. And, speaking of burgers, today Martha and a team of food-loving kids make Everyday Food turkey burgers -- and some of the toppings are incorporated right into the burger to make them really tasty.

Tuesday is Martha Stewart Living's special kids show, chock full of ideas for summer projects and summer fun. Discover how to turn an ordinary towel into a magical cape for your little superhero at home. Then, did you know there's a summer substitute for the snowball fight? Make a Summer Sponge Ball, send the kids outside, and watch the wet fun begin. MSLTV stylist Helen Quinn joins Martha to transform wooden blocks into a fleet of working boats, from sailboats and tugboats to paddleboats, dinghies, and ferries. And, if your child feels the need for water speed, we'll show you how to make a simple rubber-band paddlewheel motor.

On Martha's Favorite Books, meet Sharleen Collicott, illustrator and author of two great children's books: Toestomper and the Caterpillars and Toestomper and the Bad Butterflies. These stories follow the adventures of big, bad, bully Toestomper as he learns to be a little nicer.

On Wednesday, find your eating bliss at the farmer's market. Fresh, locally-grown produce inspires the most wonderful of summer menus. We'll travel to Portland, OR, to the Portland Farmer's Market for the freshest organic fruit, vegetables and fish. Then, create an easy Pasta with Corn, Tomatoes and Basil, and, for dessert, a Mixed Berry Summer Pudding.

Feeling festive? It's time to throw a summer cocktail party! On Thursday, Martha Stewart Living has everything you'll need to throw a party you and your friends will love.

On Friday, Linda Greenlaw, author of The Lobster Chronicles, joins Martha to make Spicy Lobster Linguine, a delicious dish inspired by Linda's experiences as a lobsterwoman.