No-Cook

Forget placing the avocado pit in your guacamole — unless you like how it looks. It doesn't stop the dip from turning brown.

Fresh and creamy all at once, this clever combination of rich ricotta ice cream and icy-cold watermelon chunks is a twist on the classic Creamsicle. Shaved bittersweet chocolate complements both flavors beautifully.

The deep caramel flavor in this ice cream will hypnotize you. And the optional garnish is actually a must; the combination of salty and sweet is too intriguing to pass up.

Chipotles ("chi-POTE-lays") are red-ripe jalapeños that have been smoked and dried. Chipotles canned in the sauce called adobo take the sweet heat in a more piquant direction.

It takes only 5 minutes to make this fantastic sauce. Once you see how versatile it is — it works perfectly with the grilled salmon and the grilled corn — you'll want to make it for a whole host of your summer favorites.

A meat-free carpaccio, this crisp mix of zucchini and arugula gets a boost from olive oil and salty cheese.

Adding a flavorful mayonnaise to this pan bagnat — style sandwich gives new appeal to traditional French fare.

We started out with half the amount of corn chips but increased the quantity because we love their addictive crunch in this Southwest-influenced salad.

Brandi Neuwirth of Cary, North Carolina, writes: "My family and I moved here from Los Angeles last year, and my new surroundings have really influenced my cooking. There's a great farmers' market nearby where I get lots of local ingredients. The produce there inspired me to create this dish, which is a real taste of the South." These pretty ice cubes are great in lemonade and summer cocktails.

Asiago frico — easy-to-make crispy cheese wafers — top this salad. Look for tender young spinach at the farmers' market. In some areas, what you find at the farmers' market may be cheaper than what's available at the supermarket. If you have a first-rate extra-virgin olive oil and some sea salt in your cupboard, here's a chance to show them off.

Now's the perfect time for strawberries at their peak, and here is a way to celebrate all their fabulous flavor.

Watermelon chunks in savory salads have been all the rage in the past few years, but we wanted a way to retain the fruit's best trait: how enjoyable it is to eat out of hand on a hot day. These wedges, sprinkled with salt, pepper, cheese, and heady fresh mint, are a light, refreshing start to a warm-weather meal. And they leave your other hand free to hold a drink or chase after the kids.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month.

Sugar snap peas add a fresh crispness to this slaw; buttermilk dressing keeps it tangy and light and contrasts nicely with the other dishes on this menu. And it's so easy to make. We bet that, after a taste, you'll never rely on that mayonnaisey deli slaw again.

This truly fabulous Vietnamese-inspired salad is the epitome of flavor synergy, combining sweet pineapple and fiery serrano with cooling cucumber and mint.

If you remember drinking Orange Julius, this shake will strike a chord.