Linda's Busy Cooks Blog

My Got $10? Make a Meal! series continues with one of the easiest and most delicious summer recipes ever: Caesar Chicken Salad. I love the combination of hot grilled chicken with cold crisp lettuce, a rich dressing, and crunchy croutons. It's paired with a super easy cold soup and some of the best brownies.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Sometimes it's just too hot to grill outside. Right now it's 85 degrees, which doesn't sound too bad, until you add in the 72 degree dew point, which translates to 70 percent humidity! It's like a steam bath out there, which means that the meal I was going to cook on my new outdoor grill is being prepared in the air conditioning, on my George Foreman dual contact grill. That prompted this list of the best indoor grill recipes, including Southwest Pork Tenderloin. Stay cool!

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Don't let summer pass by without making steak on the grill. I know all food is really expensive now, but you can buy an inexpensive round steak and marinate it and it will be delicious. Pair it with the best potato salad in the world, a fresh corn salad that tastes just like summer, and an easy ice cream dessert. Yum.

• Marinated Steak
• My Mother's Potato Salad
• Fresh Corn Salad
• Fudgesicle Pie

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

One of the best parts of the Fourth of July is the desserts. Make my gorgeous and delicious Brownie Flag, or try the luscious Red, White, and Blue Trifle. Then there's always cool ice cream treats, and my favorite version of strawberry shortcake. Yum.

• Brownie Flag
• Red White and Blue Trifle
• Easy Strawberry 'Shortcake'
• Peanut Chocolate Parfait Bars
• Ice Cream Sandwiches

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Now is the time that melons and cherries are at their best. Don't waste this fleeting season - make this salad now! I love the combination of textures and flavors, and as you can see, it's gorgeous too. Serve it with some easy homemade breadsticks and one of the best ice cream desserts ever.

• Chicken Gemelli Melon Salad
• Soft Garlicky Breadsticks
• Buster Bars

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

This coming weekend is the Fourth of July! Now, I know we're all looking forward to a three (or more) day weekend, but what do you have planned for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Turn to my easy and delicious recipes featuring quick and delicious food using seasonal ingredients. Fresh Corn Salad, for instance, is easy and quick and tastes like summer. And my Fourth of July menu is classic, but simple to make. Have a great weekend!

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

My Got $10? Make a Meal! series continues with these delicious turkey burgers. They're moist and tender, with a great flavor from mint, cumin, and ginger. Serve them with an easy vegetable packet that cooks to perfection on the grill, and one of my favorite ice cream desserts. Stay cool - and save money!

It's finally feeling like summer in Minnesota! It's hot and humid, the perfect weather for ice cream desserts. So buy a bunch of ice cream and have fun making these delicious desserts. Ice Cream Tartlets (pictured) are a perfect summer activity for the kids. And the adults will enjoy Frozen Berry Mousse or Champagne Sorbet. Yum.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

I'll bet that you think of your crockpot as a winter appliance, right? Well, these recipes will prove that the crockpot deserves to get a workout in summer too. You can make ingredients for main dish salads, great side dishes for grilled meals, appetizers, and a killer chocolate sauce for ice cream sundaes. Yum.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Not only does this excellent grilled meal cost (a penny!) less than ten dollars for four people, it only uses five ingredients! You'll love the tender pork and the spicy-sweet marinade. A crisp lettuce and cucumber salad is the perfect complement. Since pork chops are so expensive, there's no dessert with this meal, but you can offer some scoops of ice cream or sherbet.