Pink Dressing

The air hangs thick in the summer. Cheerful bright mornings quickly dissolve into the oppressiveness of a muggy afternoon. The dog-days of summer sap the energy and strength from you, causing early-morning goals to remain stranded on your to-do list. Especially goals involving standing over a hot stove or leaving the oven on for hours at a time. The heavy humidity and laid-back feel of summer beg for the refreshing ease of a green salad.

Joei's Pasta Salad

Hot, summer days come with their own special fare. Many Americans spend these lazy, dog days grilling stacks of hamburgers, hot dogs or even steak, if they feel like splurging. Tables are laden with large tubs of juicy watermelon slices, piles of sweet corn-on-the-cob and various condiments. Anything cold, easy, or grilled makes the menu to ease the pain of cooking in the sweltering heat. Often a flag cake or other sweet treat graces the end of the table, a promise of something heavenly to top off already-bulging stomachs.