This watermelon, feta, and mint salad shows up often at our house during the summer, especially for cookouts. The quality of the olive oil and feta cheese is important, so go ahead and splurge a little. It’s refreshing, loaded with sweet and salty flavors, and takes minutes to make.

This quick and easy Parmesan garlic ramen satisfies the craving for an Italian-style noodle dish, and it is super budget-friendly. Fresh garlic, a little grated Parmesan, and Italian seasoning, and instant ramen can feel a bit like Italy.

This beet salad with feta is easy to make for a colorful and elegant side dish. I love making this with beets and shallots straight from our local farmers' market.

This is a healthy, hearty, yet elegant recipe that is good enough for guests. It is also very easy and can be made with little notice. With low-carb pasta this can a good low-carb meal idea.

This chunky watermelon salad with feta, arugula, red onion, and tomatoes is enjoyed by all. Thanks to the watermelon, the kids like it also!

This fruit salad is perfect for a backyard bbq party or any occasion. There are never leftovers! This is one of my favorite fruit salad recipes, as I think the citrusy sauce really makes it. This salad is tastier the longer you can let it soak in its juices. I prefer 3 to 4 hours in the refrigerator before I serve it.

This homemade Bolognese sauce is dedicated to the late great Marcella Hazan. She was considered the Julia Child of Italian food. At a time when most Americans thought Bolognese was spaghetti sauce with chunks of hamburger, Marcella taught us just how magnificent this meat sauce could be. I like to toss it with some mezzi rigatoni and serve it with a little grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of parsley.

This potato salad recipe is for the traditional creamy type of potato salad, with eggs, celery, and relish. It's perfect for making ahead to let the flavors develop.

This chicken and sausage gumbo is made with a seasoned roux, a classic from the bayous of south Louisiana. I revised the recipe after many, many trials. Serve it hot over cooked rice or with potato salad.