Our Fourth of July feast wouldn't be complete without this chilled old-fashioned potato salad. It's my grandma's treasured recipe. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
With its unique medley of fruits and festive look, this tossed salad is a holiday tradition at our house. Our three grown daughters have come to expect it. One forkful reminds us of all the things we can...
I start this with plenty of fruit, add the yogurt for dressing, then mix in just enough marshmallows and coconut so it tastes like the fresh and creamy version I grew up with. It's a well-loved recipe...
No question-this is my favorite barley soup! It's so filling that I serve it as a hearty main dish, and I have given the recipe to many of our friends and relatives. It simply tastes too good to keep to...
This sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing recipe is the best way to dress up fruit all year long. Here's how to make it. -Patricia Staudt, Marble Rock, Iowa
One day, company was on the way, and I forgot to buy salad fixings. Scavenging the fridge for ingredients, I pulled these together and invented a salad superstar. -Kelly Walsh, Aviston, Illinois
This recipe for sweet and spicy chili is the result of much experimenting. I knew I had perfected it when my husband took a pot to work, where one guy ate five bowls himself!
Since we live in a rural area where there aren't any restaurants to speak of, I thought it would be fun to make this classic sandwich at home. For an extra flavor boost, add a splash of steak sauce. -Lenette...
When I take this dish to potlucks during the holidays, people always ooh and aah. Feel free to top with whipped cream for added appeal. —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Here's a healthy slow-cooker soup that's ideal for vegetarians and those watching their weight. Butternut squash and lentils make it hearty, while herbs and other veggies round out the flavor. -Mark Morgan,...
My daughter got this recipe from a college friend and shared it with me. Now I serve it often as an appetizer. It certainly is the talk of any party. -Lorna Sirtoli, Cortland, New York
With juicy tomatoes, feta cheese, onions and olives slightly marinated in a red wine vinaigrette, this light and refreshing salad is just right for those hot spring and summer days. -Jill Bowers, Huntington,...
This recipe started out as a summer salad with raspberries. I came up with this holiday version when I was putting together the menu for my first Thanksgiving dinner. I sometimes serve it on individual...
The only thing that beats the comforting flavor of this thick and hearty loaded baked potato soup is possibly the idea that it simmers on its own all day in a slow cooker. -Barbara Bleigh, Colonial Heights,...
This filling soup is fantastic when you need to warm up on a blustery day! If you want a chowder consistency, use a potato masher to break down some of the spuds. -Laura Davis, Chincoteague, Virginia
Meet the Cook: One of the nice things about this thick soup is you can make it in an afternoon without too much fuss. I've found that it's good for soccer-practice evenings - with our sons 18, 17 and 9,...
This dressing is a favorite of our family. It's best shaken in a jar, not made in a blender. My mother made this recipe when I was a child and we have been enjoying it for over 50 years! -Gloria Rentmaster,...
You're moments away from a flavor-packed soup that keeps you warm on even the chilliest nights. It's just the kind of recipe we Minnesotans love. -Marlene Muckenhirn, Delano, Minnesota
Warm and colorful, this tantalizing side dish bursts with refreshing vegetable flavor. Fresh herbs and Dijon mustard add the pizzazz. - Carrie Componile, Roselle Park, New Jersey
Minced onion and prepared mustard put a flavorful spin on these ham and cheese sandwiches. Simply take a few foil-wrapped favorites from the freezer and warm them in the oven for effortless lunches. -Charlotte...
This cabbage salad really has been a favorite for decades. It is easy to make and travels well for potluck suppers. -Edna Culbertson, Jenison, Michigan
Going out to restaurants got to be expensive for our family, so I came up with this homemade beef gyro. Usually, I set out the fixings so everyone can assemble their own. My husband and our two busy teens...
This is definitely a different gyro meat recipe, yet it is so good! I slice leftover meat in individual portions and freeze for any time I crave a gyro. -Sharon Rawlings, Tampa, Florida
Looking for a festive dish to light up the buffet? This pretty green gelatin salad is eye-catching and has a delightful, tangy flavor. -Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa
If you like the distinctive taste of feta cheese, you'll enjoy this crisp and refreshing cucumber medley, "Even our twin daughters ask me to make this speedy salad," reports Connie Lasko from Mistatim,...
"These burgers are quick and easy to make and are a regular summer main dish at our house. Horseradish adds a tasty zip to convenient canned salmon. Even if you don't think you like salmon, you'll be hooked."...
"Although I've tried a number of turkey burgers, I always thought they were too dry," says Shirlea Ann Roman of Jamestown, New York. "Cooking the onion first before adding it to the patties makes these...
Buy the best beef broth you can, or better yet, make your own for a rich, full-flavored soup. And if you don't have ovenproof bowls or ramekins for the soup, don't worry-you can just top your soup with...
I developed this recipe for a friend who needed a potato salad that could withstand Fourth of July weather. The vinaigrette was a safe and delicious alternative to traditional mayonnaise-based potato salads....
Tangy and fruity, this festive gelatin mold is not only easy to prepare but pretty, too. Once they've tried it, your family will request it again and again.
These hot-from-the-oven sandwiches are so good on a cool afternoon or as a quick dinner. Chopped pecans give the crab salad extra crunch.-Mary Lou Crouch, Granite Falls, Washington
My mom and I used to make these easy wrap-ups for summer days at the lake with our entire family. These days, we love to bring them to picnics and days in the park. -Jonnah Burks, Brighton, Missouri
Our taste testers loved this delicious vegetarian soup brimming with veggies and barley. Though it doesn't taste like it, the recipe from Mary Tallman of Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin has only 128 calories and...
I revamped my mother's potato salad recipe to taste more like baked potatoes with all the fixin's, which I love. It's now the most requested dish at family gatherings. Even my mother asked for the recipe!...
I used to live in Australia, where this soup is served often. I had to have the recipe, and now it's one of my family's favorites. -Tiffany Pope, Draper, Utah
I received the recipe for this cool antipasto salad from longtime friends. A pleasant dressing complements the meats, veggies and cheese, making this colorful combination popular any time of year. -Brenda...
This Italian zucchini soup recipe was given to me by my neighbor. Nice and simple, it's a good way to use a lot of your zucchini and other garden vegetables. It freezes well and is great to have on hand...