If you've never had broccoli salad before, let me enlighten you. Crisp, hearty broccoli meets its sweet, savory, crunchy match with a creamy dressing, pepper bacon, pecans, red onions and dried cranberries. It is heaven in a mouthful.

What I love most about this extremely easy recipe is that just four ingredients is all it takes to create the perfect sunny day side dish. Festive, bright corn, orange red pepper and red onion for crunch and aromatic flavor, and fresh basil for sweet, lemony finish, it's summer in a side dish.

My family’s pea salad recipe is a requirement at any warm weather gathering. The combination of shrimp, cashews, water chestnuts, peas and dill in the salad sounds so wrong but, trust me, it is oh so right.

Kale is hearty and perfectly bitter for this salad of bold, wintry flavors. This salad is the perfect addition to any lunch or dinner spread!

Turns out, adding lemon, garlic and Parmesan to my already tried and true broccoli roasting method was a smart choice indeed. Fresh, bright and salty - what more could you ask for in a side dish??

I'll tell you what sort of crazy magic happens to kale when you add lemon and garlic. It's so good that the first time I made it, we may or may not have polished off the whole bunch.

This infamous broccoli gets crisp, flavorful and slightly smoky. You almost forget you're eating broccoli. Served with just about anything - chicken, steak, pasta, soup, you name it - consider my blasted broccoli “vegetable candy.”

Even if you despise baking (like this girl), you will adore this recipe. Spicy, sweet and savory, it’s downright addictive. Did I mention it’s a cinch to whip up? You’ll be hooked!