Summer meals at my house generally revolve around some kind of grilled meat and a cold salad on the side. Be it pasta, potato or fruit salad --I like something refreshing and tasty to complement the main dish.

August is a big month here in Minnesota for garden produce.  Farmers markets are in full swing with a wide array of fresh picked vegetables.  Home gardeners are happy to share the bounty of their labor – especially when it comes to zucchini and tomatoes.  It seems that zucchini multiply faster than rabbits and, rarely do tomatoes ripen one at a time!  It’s not unusual to find zucchini and tomatoes looking for a new home here in the Test Kitchens.  They just appear on the counter begging to be taken home.  Someone has harvested their garden the night before and realizes it is impossible to use all of their lovingly grown veggies themselves, so they bring them in to share.  Soon there are recipe discussions and usage suggestions taking place.   One recipe that invariably comes up is Italian Pasta & Tomato Salad because it’s simple to make and features fresh veggies and herbs.

Each summer, I spend as much time pool-side at my parents' house as I can. It's our own little oasis where we can slow down, enjoy the sunshine and make memories as a family. And since food is always at the center of those memories, we take great pleasure in light, refreshing meals that are simple enough to make that they don't cut into our restful day.

I’m always trying to find new ways to make fresh veggie salads. After a while the basic lettuce with cucumber and tomato gets dull, so when I found a recipe for Southwest Layered Cornbread Salad, I knew I was on to something good.

A new recipe for veggies!  I found it just in time!  I need to bring a salad to a neighborhood cookout. Usually there are pasta salads, fruit salads and fresh veggies to dip.  I wanted to share an easy, quick recipe that could star alongside corn-on-the cob at the picnic but that would be a unique twist on veggies and salad.  So, since the picnic was in my backyard, Grilled Vegetable Salad made with vegetables from the garden (or market) was the answer.    Mid to late summer brings a wealth of vegetable options, whether from your garden or from the Farmers’ Market, to make creative and colorful recipes. I have a very small garden, but I am growing a rainbow of colorful bell peppers that I can use. That’s about it for the selection from my garden. So, at least this time I will need to make a quick trip to the market to get the remaining ingredients. With little effort, my salad will be a hit at this weekend’s cookout!