As the weather gets warmer, food gets simpler and easier. You don't want to spend time in a hot kitchen, yet you want to eat well. These pasta salads make the ideal side dish for just about any summer meal. They go with everything from burgers to BBQ chicken. They look great on a buffet table if you're making them for a party or picnic. And they can be made in advance.

Choose from my Italian pasta salad with zucchini, marinated artichokes and red peppers, my Mexican pasta salad with black beans and corn and more.

Try one of these recipes tonight, and be sure to post a review.

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Italian Pasta Salad image by Stephanie Gallagher 2012, licensed to About.com Inc.

Want to throw a smashing Memorial Day barbecue, with great food, fun and friends? These Memorial Day recipes will help you get started.

I've got simple recipes for everything from the best burgers ever to my five-star red potato salad to a fun and easy flag cake.

Treat yourself and your friends to these festive Memorial Day treats next weekend!

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Flag Cake image by Stephanie Gallagher 2012, licensed to About.com Inc.

If you like chocolate strawberries, you will love the taste of this homemade chocolate strawberry ice cream. The nice thing about this recipe is you don't have to cook the custard mixture before freezing the ice cream. And with real fresh strawberries and chocolate chips in every bite, this ice cream has incredible flavor.

For more ice cream recipes and frozen desserts, see also:

• Oreo Ice Cream - Just like you'd get at your favorite ice cream shop.


• Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt - Greek yogurt gives this recipe great texture.


• Ice Cream Pie Recipe - So easy and you can vary this recipe hundreds of different ways.

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Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream image by Stephanie Gallagher 2012, licensed to About.com Inc.

The key to making perfect fried chicken is giving it a nice, long soak in buttermilk. It tenderizes the chicken, so that when you fry it, it is juicy inside and perfectly crispy outside. This recipe also calls for a good amount of hot sauce. Don't worry - it won't be too spicy. It just adds a nice background kick to the chicken.

Serve this fried chicken with potato salad and apple pecan cole slaw.

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Fried Chicken image by Stephanie Gallagher 2012, licensed to About.com Inc.