Salads

• Use pastas, rice, couscous or potatoes as a base for main-dish salads. Mix salads with herb oils or mayonnaise. Make vegetarian salads or add a meat of your choice. Grilled turkey breast, flank steak and salmon are all excellent choices for a main-dish salad. Add summer vegetables for a nutritious, seasonal salad that is sure to please. Zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, sweet peas, beets, carrots, onions and sweet corn are just some of the summer vegetables that make tasty additions to any main-dish salad.

  When the summer heat is going strong and appetites yearn for lighter fare, try serving chef's salads with shaved meat, hard boiled eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, peas, onions and light salad dressing.

Grilling

• Heat up the grill instead of heating up the kitchen. Prepare a light and zesty marinade and cook fish, chicken, turkey, pork or beef on an outside charcoal or gas grill. Many gas grills also have side burners that allow additional cooking while meat cooks on the center grill. This is a perfect way to cook up a pot of corn on the cob, or boil some pasta to go along with a grilled meat main dish.

  Many marinades are suitable for marinading different kinds of meat. Make an all-purpose marinade with equal portions of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and honey. Another all-purpose marinade that works well for different kinds of meat combines 1/4 cup orange marmalade and white wine, 1 tbsp. of olive oil and cider vinegar, 1 tsp. Worcestershire and soy sauce, and two chopped green onions. Mix everything well and marinade the meat for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Sandwiches

• Sandwiches that include a bounty of sliced meats and vegetables are a satisfying meal that won't heat up the kitchen. Thinly slice tomatoes and onions, offer a few different varieties of cheese, serve roasted turkey or beef sliced into thin pieces and set out interesting condiments, such as horseradish and herb mayonnaise. Make a fruit salad and serve tortilla chips with guacamole for a delicious meal that will satisfy even the heartiest appetites.