Summer isn't summer without at least one Insalata Caprese: fresh mozzarella layered with amazing tomatoes and basil leaves, topped with coarse salt and balsamic reduction. A balsamic marinade makes this chicken a tender and juicy side.

If you are lucky enough to live near Eat Street in Minneapolis or Frogtown in St. Paul, perfect bành mí sandwiches are seconds away. But for the rest of us, learning to make them at home is the best way to enjoy this great sandwich. Crusty baguette topped with lemongrass pork, mayo, crisp vegetables, condiments and pickled carrot and daikon radish.

This is a seriously refreshing dish. Sweet crawfish meat layered with rich mango, tangy red onion and spicy habañero pepper in a corn tortilla. Yumalicious.

This is one of my favorite soup recipes, from The Daily Soup Book, and it's a perfect time to make it with summer's bounty of sweet corn. Poblano peppers meld nicely with potatoes and corn, and a spackling of chipotle peppers perks it up on the finish.

Bành mí combine the bold flavors of Vietnam with classic French colonialism. But for the rest of us, learning to make them at home is the best way to enjoy this great sandwich. Crusty baguette topped with lemongrass eggs, mayo, crisp vegetables, condiments and pickled carrot and daikon radish.

The tofu for this dish is smothered in a classic blend of Asian seasoning, then slow-baked for an intense, completely infused bite. Paired with a quick sauté of Thai eggplant and noodles, and sprinkled with minced scallions and chiles. This is a really flavorful dinner that is simply delicious.