Seven food-related ideas to turn summer into something extra special, no cooking required, heavens, no assembly required. I hope you'll find one or two ideas destined as "keepers" in your own summer idle idyll.

Let's call this my official kickoff to "bring a salad" season, you know, for an impromptu dinner at the neighbor's, a picnic at that new state park, a church potluck, a graduation party, Canada's May Long Weekend, the U.S.'s Memorial Day barbecues. I have toooooo soooooooo many salad recipes! It took unflinching resolve to narrow so many down to a perfect special seven meant just for these few weeks of late spring and early summer. May you find a "keeper" or two or three! Or seven!

Is this the Salad of the Summer? Maybe! It's a simple chopped salad that starts off with just artichokes hearts and tomatoes, then, well, you make it your own , adding another vegetable (avocado? asparagus?) plus bits of cheese (feta? parmesan?), herbs (cilantro? basil?) and even a dressing of your own choice (a sweet vinaigrette? creamy feta? Italian?). So quick, so easy, so good and most of all, so nourishing for everyday healthy eating. Whole Food, Simply Prepared, Fresh & Inventive. Just Seven Ingredients, Mostly If Not Entirely from the Pantry. Mere Minutes to Make An Easy, Healthy Side Dish. Hearty & Filling. Fun Picnic Food. Not just easy, Summer Easy . Budget Friendly. Great for Meal Prep. Potluck & Party Friendly. Scales from Small Plates to Large Platters. Easy DIY. Low Carb. Low Fat. Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegetarian. Naturally Gluten Free.

... to Make a Mom's Life Just a Little Bit Easier From quick suppers to easy before-dinner healthy snacks to salads that keep to a spring fruit cobbler that's ultra flexible and not overloaded with sugar.

Make it a "muffin morning" with a small batch of simple Raspberry Muffins, moist and tender, packed with bits of fresh or frozen raspberries with a crisp sugary muffin top . Thanks to a touch of cornmeal, these are a bit rustic, definitely muffins, definitely not cupcakes. Bakery-Style Muffins Made from Scratch in Just One Bowl, No Mixer Required. Stay Fresh for Several Days. Fun Picnic Food. Budget Friendly. Weekday Doable, Weekend Special. Breakfast & Brunch Friendly. Vegetarian.

Seven strawberry recipes to send all your spring senses soaring with the spirit of the season ...

Seven recipes to kick start those Cinco de Mayo tacos you're fantasizing. Good news, all the "extras" (condiments, rice, beans, salads, etc.) may be made a day or two or three or four or five ... ahead of time.

Pretty orange and poppyseed muffins from Canada's famous Best of Bridge cookbook series. They're barely sweet and even then, sweetened mostly with a whole orange (skin and all!) and one of my favorite pantry ingredients for a flavor boost, frozen orange juice concentrate. Homemade Muffins, Warm from the Oven, Bright with Orange Flavor. Mere Minutes to the Table, Perfect for Casual Breakfasts and Weekend Brunch. Fun Picnic Food. Great for Food Gifts. Potluck & Party Friendly.

Well hey, feta lovers. Welcome to my little corner of feta heaven, seven recipes that celebrate the sharp, tangy cheese that elevates any food it touches. Feta just might be the butter of cheese! I hope you love this collection!

How to cook sugar water for feeding hummingbirds, delivering hours and hours of buzzing wings and sweet little peeps as these magnificent creatures return to feed on DIY nectar from spring to fall. The formula is easy, a ratio of 1:2 sugar:water, just mix as much as you need. A hummingbird feeder is a great backyard joy! The Sugar:Water Mixture to Attract and Safely Feed the Neighborhood Hummingbirds. How to Pick a Good Feeder. How to Clean and Fill Hummingbird Feeders. How to Watch Hummingbirds, Up Close & Personal. It's Seriously Fun!