Salad dinner, again (Photo credit: freddy)

Are you ready for summer? It’s almost here and you need to get ready. How do you do that? Make sure that you have washed your beach towels, found the pool toys, and put all the soup recipes away.

Summer means lighter fare, bar-b-ques, fresh fruits and vegetables, and parties. With the warmer and lighter evenings, it is the perfect pairing for neighborhood block parties, impromptu friends over, or celebrations like Father’s Day, Graduation, and birthdays. All of this means that you need to pull out your fresh herbs, marinades, and margarita machines to enjoy the fun in the sun.

Of course the tried and true bar-b-que turns up over and over again. But if you’re not grilling then you need some good side dish recipes to bring. A fresh corn salad is a fantastic side that rarely is left in the bowl. Just cook some corn over the grill wrapped in tin foil. After it cools cut the kernels off into a bowl. Add in red bell pepper, salt, tomato, and feta cheese. A simple oil and vinegar dressing will keep it light and refreshing.

A Greek salad of fresh tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese is simply dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. As the items sits int he bowl it marinates and create a delicious, light and wonderful accompaniment to most meals. Even the simple green salad can be dressed up for the warm weather. Add cranberries, toasted walnuts, and brie to spring greens and make your own croutons from stale bread.

But of course the best part of any party during the summer is the dessert. Homemade ice cream that you hand crank can’t be beat. But remember that you can bring some ramped up standards like brownies and crispy treats that will have everyone clamouring for more.

Most people can’t pass up a brownie. But if you crunch up cookies like oreo’s, mint milano’s, and nutter butters you have a Cookie Brownie that will fly off the plate. How about taking the old standard crispy treat and putting your own spin on it. Add other types of cereal like crunchberry, peanut butter puffs, or cheerios and add color to the marshmallow mix. What you’ll have is a frenzied colored block of sweet goodness. For a healthier version mix granola or Special K in with fruits, nuts, and trail mix to make a dessert you don’t have to feel guilty about.

No matter what summertime invitation your get you’ll be ready to bring a dish that all the neighbors will gush over. Just remember to keep it simple, delicious, and add your own spin to anything you make.

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