Barley is so good for you! Did you know it's also delicious? It has what I consider the perfect tender and chewy texture, and has a mild nutty taste. Try it in Chicken Barley Corn Salad, a beautiful main dish salad that is easy to make. Serve it with some flaky breadsticks and a refreshing frozen pie.

• Chicken Barley Corn Salad
• Parmesan Breadsticks
• Chocolate Lemon Ice Cream Pie

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Strawberries, more than any other fruit, are the harbinger of spring. It's finally beautiful where I live - sunny and 70 degrees. So a strawberry recipe or two seems appropriate, especially since my supermarket had a 'buy one get one free' special yesterday. Strawberry Cream Dessert, pictured, is one of my new favorites. But did you know that strawberries are also delicious in main dishes? Just try Raspberry Mint Turkey Salad for a real treat. Yum.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

For a quick and delicious dinner, make Orange Chicken Curry this week. The combination of tender chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and curry powder in a creamy orange sauce is really delicious. Serve it with some simple buttered carrots and easy breadsticks. For dessert, a dressed up brownie is a great choice. Enjoy.

• Orange Chicken Curry
• Buttered Baby Carrots
• Soft Garlicky Breadsticks
• Crunchy Chocolate Brownie Bars

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

It's time to pull out our grills and partake in the Great American Summer Pastime: grilling! We love to grill, and we love steak. These are the top ten grilled steak recipes in my repertoire. When grilled, steak becomes tender and juicy, with a crisp caramelized, smoky crust that has the flavor of summer. Try one or two or all of these recipes this week, including Sirloin Steak and Corn Salad.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

This weekend is Mother's Day! Instead of just making Mom a special breakfast or dinner, treat her to an entire weekend worth of meals. These quick and easy recipes will see you through the weekend in style. I love Black Bean Wild Rice Salad (pictured), Crunchy Oatmeal Brownies, and Turkey Cordon Bleu - and so will Mom! Oh, and don't despair - Mom will be happy even if you just make one of these recipes.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Let Mom sleep in on Sunday and make this easy menu so you can serve her breakfast in bed. All of it can be made ahead of time so all you have to do is heat the eggs, slice the coffee cake, pour the juice, and spoon the salad into a bowl. Kids, if you're making this menu, get a grownup to help with the oven steps in the recipes, and be sure you know kitchen rules before you start. Mom will love it!

• Danish Puff Coffeecake
• Make Ahead Scrambled Eggs
• Overnight Fruit Salad

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

You know that most moms love cookies. So make a batch or two for Mother's Day, and the whole family can enjoy them. One of my favorites is Starlight Mint Cookies (pictured), but I also love Chocolate Dainties and Dark Chocolate Cookies. Be sure to read how to make the best cookies before you begin. Yum!

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Let's celebrate today with some wonderful, quick and easy recipes your family will love. These are some of my favorite recipes with a Mexican slant. None are authentic, but all are really delicious! I especially recommend Mexican Pizza, which is rich and hearty with refried beans, green chiles, and lots of cheese. Yum.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Pancakes are the perfect recipe for Mother's Day breakfast or brunch. They are among the easiest recipes to make, and are also very inexpensive. Read all about how to make the perfect fluffy pancakes, choose your favorite recipe (mine is Classic Pancakes, pictured), then treat Mom next Sunday, or make breakfast for dinner on Monday or Tuesday.

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

It's not often that you can call a main dish 'luscious'. This one is. Tender and smoky salmon is topped with a fresh and sweet fruit salad for a spectacular dinner. All you need to serve with it is some roasted green beans and a nice grilled bread. For dessert, an ice cream pie is an easy make-ahead treat.

• Salmon with Blueberry Grape Salad
• Roasted Green Beans
• Toasted Garlic Bread
• Fudgesicle Pie

_{Photo © 2008 Linda Larsen, licensed to About.com, Inc.}