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If you're attending a party and you're not the host, you'll probably want to bring a side dish or a dessert.

While Dan Eaton's recipe list is endless, here are just a few great ideas if you're heading to a party this summer.

Salads

A standard green salad is a staple in my family. Try this recipe with a homemade dressing.
Green Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

This one includes Greek yogurt!
Crunchy Vegetable Salad with Greek Yogurt, Lemon, Dill and Chives

Potato salad is always a favorite at summer get-togethers.
Potato salad with capers, horseradish, dill, smoked salmon and pickled red onions

Want to try something lighter?
Coleslaw with carrots, cabbage, broccoli and nonfat yogurt

Let's not forget the pasta salad too!
Mediterranean Style Shrimp and Pasta Salad

Here's a great way to use those green beans you've been growing in your garden.
Three Bean Salad

Deviled eggs

A party and picnic favorite are deviled eggs. But why make them traditional when you can spice them up?
Deviled Eggs with Smoked Ham, Pickled Jalapeno Peppers and Cheddar Cheese
Deviled Eggs with Cajun Spice Rubbed Shrimp
Avocado and Chipotle Pepper Deviled Eggs

Dips and Salsa

Instead of picking up a jar of salsa or dip at the store, why not make something full of flavor and color?
Bean, Corn and Chipotle Pepper Salsa
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Whole Wheat Pita Chips

Desserts

My favorite thing to break to a gathering is dessert...mostly because I like to taste test as I bake. Here are a few different options!
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Brownies with Whipped Mascarpone Cheese and Cherries

I found a great guide online for finding U-pick strawberry farms across the country and, for us here in Upstate New York, we just need to click on the NY link to find U-pick farms that are close by.

Check it out here.

Or, here’s a great link for strawberry picking tips plus ideas for festivals and recipes.

Of course, you can find locally grown berries already picked at farm stands and at farmers markets and even in some grocery stores that are tuned into the seasons.

Enjoy the season while it lasts or, stretch the local season by freezing berries. Lightly rinse the berries, if necessary, and pat dry. Then trim and freeze whole or halved in a single layer on a baking tray. When completely frozen, transfer the berries to freezer bags, keep frozen and use throughout the year.

Here are a few recipes I’ve done in the past that use strawberries….Enjoy!

Strawberry Rhubarb Turnovers
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Homemade Crepes with Strawberries, Bananas and a Homemade Chocolate Sauce
Strawberry Banana Bread
Strawberry Cornmeal Shortcake

Another trip to the market (the weather has been amazingly cooperative for these forays) and I’ve seen a few new things popping up. Local things, like rhubarb, spinach and more asparagus and other seasonal things from other parts of the country like cherries, strawberries, snap peas and radishes.

I just used some local rhubarb to make a strawberry rhubarb streusel pie (although I used a store bought pie shell instead of making my own pie crust) and I also used asparagus, radishes, snap peas and sliced English cucumber to make a healthy at home salad with a simple nonfat Greek yogurt, lemon, dill and chive dressing. Look for both of those segments coming up soon on YNN.

Here some of the recent photos I shot during my last trip to the market. Can’t wait to see what’s coming up next!

Memorial Day is a very special holiday, one that honors the commitment and sacrifice of so many who gave their lives for the hope of freedom and liberty for all.

On Memorial Day, we all need to stop and consider just how truly blessed we are. It’s easy to forget and think that Memorial Day is just another “day off” that’s about getting outside and cooking up a few burgers, hot dogs or steaks on the grill.

For me, attending the local Memorial Day Parade has always been an emotional experience. It defies description being part of a crowd observing and honoring our veterans as they march by.

Honorable and brave beyond words these men and women. I am always humbled. So, on Memorial Day, when I’m in my backyard and grilling and thinking there is nothing in the world that’s much more enjoyable. I am especially thankful for the liberty I have.

I’ve posted a few links below to some grilling segments I’ve done on Cooking at Home and, if you check out the most recent post before this, you’ll see a few burger recipes as well.

Enjoy...and have a happy, safe and thankful Memorial Day!

Grilled Tuna with Grilled Vegetables and Chimichurri
Grilled Flank Steak with Grilled Red Peppers, Green Onions and Pineapple
Grilled Summer Bread Salad with Asparagus, Vidalia Onion, Grape Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella Cheese and Mint
Grilled New York Strip Steaks with Iceberg Wedge Salad
Pork and Pineapple Skewers with Homemade Pineapple BBQ Sauce
Grilled Salmon with Grilled Red Onion, Baby Potatoes and Grainy Mustard Dressing

Below are links to seven recipes:

The first three are somewhat traditional beef burgers, the fourth and fifth are turkey burgers, numbers six is a black bean burger and number seven is a lentil burger.

The photo above is actually number seven - the lentil and sweet potato burger most recently seen on Healthy at Home.

Enjoy!

Summer Burger stacked with a Portobello Mushroom and Jalapeno Jack Cheese
Black and Blue Burgers
Skillet Burger with Bacon, Onion and Blue Cheese Dressing
Grilled Turkey Burgers with Spinach, Red Pepper, Black Olive and Feta Salad
Turkey red bean burgers
Black Bean Burgers
Homemade Lentil and Sweet Potato Burgers