For many of us it means a series of weeks that revolved around eating, drinking, traveling and rushing around to celebrate again and again with family and friends.

Otherwise known as the perfect combination for a head cold!

Or if you're blessed to live in one of the beautiful areas of the world with lots of new plants and trees in bloom this time of year, you may also be suffering from the onslaught of allergens that are circulating in the air.

Whatever caused it though is irrelevant at this point though.

Your head is stuffed and you want it unstuffed NOW.  Even if just for a few hours of relief.

Well along with major decongestants, using a neti pot twice a day, and my grandmother's recipe for a hot toddy that will kill anything in your system, there's only one other remedy I use for clearing the stuffiness out so that you prevent the dreaded sinus infection ...

And that's my Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup recipe.

Italian Sausage Soup

Now I realize many people default to a good 'ol fashioned chicken soup.  And don't get me wrong, "nature's penicillin" (AKA Chicken Soup) has it's place in the natural home remedies for colds and flus.

But when it comes to a stuffy head, you need real heat.  Not just temperature ... but heat from spicy sausage, as well as some extra crushed red pepper thrown in for good measure.

So the next time your head is so stuffy you'd do anything for a few hours of relief, grab your dutch oven or soup pot and get to work.  You have the perfect recipe for an easy to make, spicy Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup that will have your sinuses cleared in no time.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

The plans have been set ...

And you've been given your assignment for this year's big event.

Your job, if you choose to accept it ... is to bring the cranberry sauce?!?

You read the email again ... it's true!

You get to bring the easiest side dish in the history of all Thanksgiving dinners.

Just grab a couple cans at the store on your way home tonight, and you're all set!

OR....

You could make a cranberry sauce that would be remembered for years to come.

You could make a cranberry sauce that would move this otherwise "afterthought" dish into a front-runner position.

You my friend, could make a cranberry sauce to trump all cranberry sauces ever made.

OK, so yes, I can be a bit dramatic from time to time.  What can I say? I love to motivate and build people up!

But I'm telling you, being selected to bring the cranberry sauce could be your ticket to fame this holiday season.

This homemade cranberry sauce is not only amazing on turkey (and other meats!), but you can use the leftovers as an addition to bagels with cream cheese in the morning, and pour over baked brie for a festive holiday appetizer.

Cranberry Sauce

And since the flavors actually get better over time, you can make this a couple days before Thanksgiving.  Just set it out 30 minutes before serving to bring it back to room temperature.

So the next time you're selected to bring the cranberry sauce, you stand up and be proud of your assignment.  You have the perfect recipe for homemade cranberry sauce that will be requested at all Thanksgivings from this day forward.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

P.S. Now of course I'm not saying that you can't ALSO bring the canned stuff.  It's tradition after all. (And my cousin Rosemarie would kill me!)

You're short on time tonight, but still want to get a quick workout in AND make a healthy meal for your family.

Would 20 minutes do it?

With that amount of time you could easily get through one of Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred
home workouts. (Love them!!)

Well go ahead and put on your workout clothes, because this recipe not only has a super easy prep, but a hands-off cooking style, and hardly any clean-up at all.

If you're not used to cooking with foil packets you're in for a treat.  They're so easy and everything comes out extra juicy.

And this apricot and curry chicken packet recipe is one of my absolute favorite things to make using foil packets.

Curried Apricot Chicken

So the next time you have a long, busy day, and want to grab a quick 20-minute workout before dinner, go ahead and grab your weights or pop in a DVD.  You have the perfect recipe for apricot and curry chicken that will be ready to eat when you're ready to eat it!

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

It's so hot outside. And the watermelon looked soooo good.

Plus it was only $3.99 for an entire one!

But the weekend is over, and the novelty of eating watermelon on the patio has come and gone.

It breaks your heart to think of wasting over half of the thing. Even if it was cheap!

Well waste not my deal-loving friend! I have a few watermelon recipes for you today ...

First up, beverages ...

I found these watermelon cocktail ideas in the July/August 2010 issue of Food Network Magazine and found them quite refreshing! We're talking watermelon cap cods, frozen watermlon margaritas, and watermelon mojitos.

Next up, a salad ...

While this refreshing watermelon salad may sound odd at first, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy it in the end.  It combines interesting flavors, and looks beautiful on the plate.  So along with using up leftover watermelon, it's the perfect salad for dinner parties where you want something a little "different."

And finally, a recipe a little "out there" for a change in case you're feeling daring...

I haven't tried it myself yet, so I'm hesitant to post it, but i just couldn't resist.  The recipe is for a spicy watermelon soup with crabmeat that I've been meaning to try.  So if you beat me to it, let me know how it is!

I'll post my own picture once I've made it - I only like to use my own so you know what to really expect from the recipes!

So the next time you have leftover watermelon and can't bear to throw it away, decide which course you want to tackle, and start dicing it up.  You have the perfect recipes to turn that leftover watermelon into something exciting.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

You head to the grocery store after work to pick-up something for dinner.

As you browse the seafood case, the beautiful orange salmon calls to you.

You approach to get a closer look, and find it's your lucky day.

Wild Alaskan Salmon is on sale.

And that means you can save money AND feel good about your eco-sustainable purchase.

It also means that you get to check out this amazing baked honey and dijon salmon recipe!

Baked Honey and Dijon Salmon

The combination of honey and dijon mustard give this salmon a nice rich taste, and the baked breadcrumb topping serves as the perfect finish.  It's a wonderful way to turn a regular weeknight dinner into something special.

If you've been to WhatToCookWhen.com before, you know I'm not a huge fan of salmon.  But I know that it's good for you, and my hubby loves it, so I'm always searching for the best recipes to enhance (i.e. mask) the salmon.

I'm telling you, even if you or someone you love is a self-proclaimed salmon hater, this recipe will be one they ask for again and again.

So the next time you find salmon on sale, take advantage of that special deal. You have the perfect recipe for baked honey and dijon salmon that even salmon haters will enjoy.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Ever since then, I crave them quite often, and find it hard to order any other appetizer when I eat at the restaurant.

And in all my cooking adventures, I've yet to find a recipe that even comes close.

Until now ...

I found this chicken lettuce wrap recipe in a Food Network magazine that was given to me as a gift (thanks V!), and luckily I decided to give it a shot. Because it ROCKS.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The flavor is so good, and the combination of savory stir-fried chicken, and cool crisp lettuce cups, makes it a recipe you'll want to make again and again.

So the next time you're craving PF Chang's lettuce wraps, don't worry about running to the restaurant to order takeout. You have the perfect recipe for satisfying that craving from the comfort of your own home.

Until our next meal,
Rebecca

That wine is sweeeeeeeetttt!

The guy at the store said it was the perfect wine for a hot summer afternoon.

But oh my - this is not what you were expecting.

I mean really ... did they add a cup of sugar before bottling it?!

There's no way you can drink it. Even some ice and seltzer won't help you get it down.

But you hate the thought of wasting the bottle.

So you need a recipe that will use it up.

Well boy do I have the recipe for you ...

It's a recipe that will turn that bad wine recommendation into something you'll really enjoy.

It's so flavorful and tastes rich, yet at the same time it's not heavy like you'd expect.

The recipe is for riesling chicken with mushrooms, and oh my, it's worth pulling out that other bottle of wine you bought but planned to save for a worthy dinner.

Riesling Chicken

Yep, this one is definitely worthy.

So the next time someone talks you into buying a bottle of wine that is just too sweet for your taste, set it aside and open something else.  You have the perfect meal for a riesling chicken with mushrooms that will turn that sweet wine into a wonderful meal.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Your guests are asking what they can bring…

Perfect!

You now have the opportunity to throw a fun picnic, without a lot of hassle.

And with this handy July Fourth recipe guide, you can easily divide up the recipes among your guests, and ensure the entire picnic menu is a smashing success...

First up, homemade guacamole.  It's an easy starter, and when paired with salsa and chips, is one that everyone enjoys.

And for those guests who want to snack on something a little more interesting, this lemony shrimp and scallop cocktail appetizer is sure to satisfy.  It's light and tangy, and perfect for cooling down an otherwise hot afternoon.

Since it's already hot enough outside, there's no need to fire up the grill.  Instead serve up a delicious curry chicken salad, as well as some fresh crab salad, and pair with sliced pita, crackers and cut veggies for an easy and satisfying main course.

And finally, pull it all together with two amazing, interesting, and perfect-for-a-hot-summer-day salads.  First up the arugula and watermelon salad for the foodies in the group.  It may sound weird, but trust me, it's good.  And then second, the chopped wedge salad, which if you love a traditional wedge, will make you one extremely happy picnicker.

Each of these recipes on their own are amazing, and they’ll be talked about for a long while … not to mention requested at picnics for years to come.

And since all of these recipes can be prepared in advance, don’t require a lot of additional prep before serving, and most importantly, don’t involve the grill, you can plan to kick back, relax, and enjoy the festivities with your guests.

Of course these recipes also have the potential to save the picnic in the event of a grilling mishap involving a slightly intoxicated grill master, too much lighter fluid, and some missing eyebrows.

(Yes, I speak from experience.)

So if you're hosting the Fourth of July  picnic this year, go ahead and tell your guests you’d love for them to bring something.  You have the perfect recipes for a low-stress picnic, that both you and your guests will enjoy.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

P.S. Have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

It's a milestone that demands a big celebration.

And whenever there's a big celebration, there's usually good food to go along with it.

You've been invited to help your friend ring in the new chapter of her life.

And since the party is at her house, you've decided to bring an appetizer to add to the celebratory menu.

You want to make something nice - I mean she only turns 40 once, right?!?

But you need to make something that transports easily, and requires little prep work once you're there.

Crab Salad

Go with this elegant crab salad.

A cross between a seafood and Waldorf salad, this cool and crisp recipe is perfect for an elegant party, as well as a hot day when you feel like making something special.

You can serve it up in a bowl with crackers, or drop a teaspoonful on sliced cucumbers for an extra-special presentation.

Either way, your friend and her guests will enjoy it.

So the next time you're going to a 40th birthday party, tell the birthday girl to plan for an extra appetizer.  You have the perfect crab salad recipe for making her special day even more special.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

P.S. Happy 40th Heather!

A high of 98, and not a cloud in the sky.

And the forecast for the week is more of the same.

Hot, hot, hot.

And while you love the summer ... relaxing with friends, enjoying the pool or the lake, taking vacations ... some days you just need to beat the heat.

Today is one of those days ...

You want something cool and refreshing this afternoon. Maybe something that will pair nicely with a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc, an ice cold Red Stripe, or an icy fresh lemonade.

Something that won't require you to fire up the grill, heat up the oven, or require a lot of effort in the kitchen.

Caribbean Shrimp

Well go ahead and grab your ice cold beverage of choice, because this caribbean shrimp recipe is just what you need.

It not only makes for a beautiful and tasty appetizer, and can also be turned into a healthy dinner by adding a small salad.

And while this recipe calls for fresh mango and papaya, it’s also good with pineapple and other tropical fruits - really whatever you have on hand!

So the next time you're hot as h$ll in Texas, and want something to cool you down, put the drinks on ice and maybe throw on some island wear.  You have the perfect recipe for caribbean shrimp that will leave you feeling cool and refreshed on this hot summer day.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

P.S. This request came from a WhatToCookWhen.com fan via Facebook.

Do you need some ideas on what to cook?  Simply email, tweet me or post on the WhatToCookWhen.com Facebook Fan Page and I'll help you out!