Cooking for Kids

Summer is for beach trips and playing in the park, going to the pool and taking road trips, enjoying the garden, water sports and hiking. But summer is not the time to spend hours in a hot kitchen cooking dinner. These quesadilla recipes are the ideal quick-fix dinner for summer time. You can use just about any filling to make a quesadilla - it's really just a melted Mexican sandwich, but these combinations are great starters. Take my beef quesadillas. Deli roast beef makes these quesadillas quick to prepare. This is literally one of those meals that can go from putting it together to putting it on the table in less than 15 minutes. Try all of these quesadilla recipes, and let me know what you think.

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Beef Quesadillas image by Stephanie Gallagher 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

The sweetness of garlic mixed with brown sugar is such an intense flavor combination that this garlic chicken needs little else to make it incredible. And incredible it is. Rich with layers of flavor, this chicken is easy enough to make for a busy weeknight, yet tasty enough to serve to company or for Sunday dinner.

My 5-star roasted green beans and my creamy garlic mashed potatoes are the perfect side dishes for this simple, yet elegant dinner.

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Garlic Chicken image by Stephanie Gallagher 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

Start Dad's day off right with these wonderfully fluffy blueberry cornmeal pancakes. You can make these pancakes with either fresh or frozen blueberries - either work just as well. They taste just like the kind of pancakes you'd get a country inn or bed and breakfast. I like to serve them topped with butter and maple syrup or fresh blueberries and powdered sugar.

Check out these pancakes recipes, too:

• Ricotta Pancakes - So light, they melt in your mouth.


• Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Always a hit with the kids. Garnish with whipped cream.


• Banana Pancakes - Top with fresh sliced bananas and maple syrup.

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Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes image by Stephanie Gallagher 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy light, crisp side dishes like this broccoli slaw with cashews. The nice thing about this recipe is that it is full of many layers of flavor, but takes only 10 minutes to prepare. The cashews add a buttery crunch (not to mention a bit of protein) to this amazing slaw.

This is a perfect side dish for a Father's Day cookout or picnic, because you can make it in advance. Be sure to check out my other great Father's Day recipes, too.

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Broccoli Slaw with Cashews image by Stephanie Gallagher 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

Whether you're looking for a sweet treat for a special celebration or just want a tasty ending to a summer meal, these cool summer pies are the perfect solution. From a creamy lemon yogurt pie recipe (that's pretty healthy, too) to a retro-inspired grasshopper pie (the kids will love this one), these pies are everything a good summer pie should be: light, refreshing, full of flavor and just a little bit rich.

Got chocolate-lovers in the family? Don't worry. They will adore this decadent chocolate mousse pie recipe. It has a secret ingredient!

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Lemon Yogurt Pie image by Jupiterimages/Getty Images 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

Is there a better use for fresh zucchini straight from the garden than zucchini bread? I think not. These zucchini bread recipes take the classic spice cake (which is basically what zucchini bread is) and make it oodles better.

My classic zucchini bread recipe, for example, has all the wonderful ingredients that make zucchini bread delectable with a few key additions: lemon zest and mace. They add a bright, warmth to this recipe that makes the whole house smell delicious as the bread is baking.

For chocolate-lovers, nothing is better than my chocolate zucchini bread with coconut. Moist, rich and sweet (but not cloying), this is my go-to bread when I want to eat dessert for breakfast, but I don't want to seem like it.

Try all of these recipes, and let me know what you think.

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Zucchini Bread image by C Squared Studios/Getty Images, licensed to About.com Inc.

Planning a special barbecue or dinner for Father's Day? End it on a sweet note with one of these brownies or bar cookies recipes. Take my popular chocolate brownies. Chewy and rich, these brownies taste great on their own or topped with ice cream and fudge sauce for a brownie sundae.

My magic cookie bars are a retro dessert that never goes out of style. Coconut-lovers will enjoy these bars.

The nice thing about all of these recipes is that they can be made in advance.

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Chocolate Brownies image by Stephanie Gallagher 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

Corn on the cob is definitely one of summer's greatest pleasures. I'll show you three easy methods for cooking corn on the cob perfectly: microwaving, boiling and grilling. Microwaving is ideal when you're pressed for time. Grilling lends a slightly smoky flavor to the corn that goes great with grilled chicken or burgers. And boiling is terrific when you want to cook a large batch of corn at once.

Any of these methods will work great, especially if your corn is very fresh. Serve with one of my savory flavored butter recipes.

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Corn on the Cob image by Getty Images/Christopher Robbins 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

Give Dad a little sweetness on Father's Day with one of these amazing, man-pleasing Father's Day dessert recipes.If he's a fan of chocolate, this chocolate pudding pie recipe will definitely be a winner. It has a simple graham cracker crust and creamy, chocolatey filling that everyone loves. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

My peach crisp recipe makes a great end-of-barbecue dessert, too. Serve warm, topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Try all of these delicious dishes, and be sure to post your reviews.

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Chocolate Pudding Pie image by Stephanie Gallagher 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.

One of my favorite summer smells is the sweet, smoky aroma of barbecue chicken on the grill. But you don't even need a grill to make great barbecue chicken. These BBQ chicken recipes show you how.

Take my oven baked BBQ chicken recipe. The chicken is slow baked in an oven, so it has plenty of time to absorb the flavor and moisture of the barbecue sauce. The result is a wonderfully tender, juicy chicken that goes great with a side of mustard potato salad.

Or try my 5-star BBQ chicken, made in an electric skillet. It has just four ingredients and is always a favorite among kids.

Try all of these dishes, and let me know what you think.

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Oven Baked BBQ Chicken image by Brian Hagiwara/Getty Images 2013, licensed to About.com Inc.