Light salads, grilled mains, fruity sides, chilled drinks, and refreshing desserts -- everything you need for a healthy and delicious summer party menu is right here.

Escape the heat, and curb hunger pangs before the main course, with a refreshing bowl of gazpacho.

Consider adding a small handful of edible flowers to this light salad as a beautiful (and tasty) garnish.

Green tomatoes are simply unripe red tomatoes -- hence their lower sugar content and slightly sour taste. Charring makes them softer and easier to peel. To grill the shrimp, use 8-inch wooden skewers, found in supermarkets or kitchenware stores.

Instead of using bread, try serving this light dish on a bed of greens, tossed with pasta, or stirred into couscous.

Using whole-wheat couscous adds fiber to this side dish. Serving it at room temperature, rather than chilled, allows the flavors to come through.

Citrus juice enlivens this brew while lemon zest adds depth of flavor. Use organic fruit to avoid detergents and dyes in the rind.

Vitamins A and C in the peaches and apricots add nutritional value to this sweet after-dinner treat.

Beets are available year-round, but are best served cold in the summertime. Change up this recipe by using half olive oil and half walnut oil, and top the beets with tossed walnuts. You can also use a mixture of beets such as Chioggia, golden, and red.

For the most visually rewarding presentation, layer these parfaits in clear glasses.

Silken tofu makes this dessert smooth, while fresh lemon juice adds a burst of tart flavor. You can make the lemon cream in advance, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator for as long as three days.

Using kiwi instead of shrimp makes this summer roll a perfect vegetarian treat.

Vegetables with a high water content cook beautifully on the grill; the dry heat evaporates the water and allows them to brown easily. You can cook the zucchini and summer squash at the same time as the chicken. After moving the chicken to the cooler side of the grill, wipe the grates clean with paper towels and you're ready to go.

Juicy, ripe peaches star in this easy-to-make dessert, but you can also substitute other stone fruits like nectarines or plums -- or even combine several. To make mealtime preparation easier, consider preparing this crisp in advance and then keeping it at room temperature for a few hours. Just before serving, reheat it in a warm oven.

Balsamic vinegar and brown sugar make a sweet-tart dressing for the berries. Serve as is or, for an extra crunch, with toasted nuts.

Look for pure chile powder (its only ingredient is ground chile pepper). For genuine barbecue flavor, couple this spicy tofu with crunchy slaw and serve as a sandwich or wrapped in a large leaf of lettuce with sliced tomato and red onion.

For the right consistency, use a thick Greek yogurt for this recipe. You can prepare (but not cook) the burgers up to a day ahead, and then cover and refrigerate until you're ready to use.

When shopping for an avocado, choose one that's firm to the touch with unbroken skin. Let it ripen a few days at room temperature. You'll know it's ready to eat when it feels soft. Once cut, avocados will turn brown quickly, but you can slow the oxidation process by squeezing a little lemon or lime juice on it. 

A two-level fire ensures crisp skin and moist, evenly cooked meat. To create two levels of heat in a charcoal grill, spread some of the hot coals in a thin layer over half of the grill and pile the remaining coals on the other side. Cook the chicken uncovered when using a charcoal grill; covering it makes it cook faster and more likely to char.

Italian country bread makes this salad a little heartier than most.

Fruit juice is a great way to sweeten iced tea brews naturally. The raisins in this recipe also add a natural sweetness. If you can't find raspberry juice, substitute cherry juice. For an easy berry variation, try blackberry leaves with blueberry juice.

Peppermint ranks high among mint-tea drinkers, but you can substitute equal amounts of any variety in this recipe. Try interesting flavors such as chocolate mint, orange mint, pineapple mint, or spearmint -- or combine several types for a more complex, rich brew.

The mellowed acidity of aged balsamic vinegar pairs perfectly with the sugary sweetness of strawberries. For a special presentation, garnish with wild strawberries.

When choosing leafy greens, mix it up -- buy whatever looks best the day you shop. Spinach, arugula, and mizuna make a winning combination.

Eggplant peaks in late summer or early fall, depending on your local climate. Salting the eggplant strips removes some of the water, which makes for better grilling.

Yogurt adds a healthy component to this fool, an old-fashioned dessert. If you don't have thick Greek-style yogurt, put 2 cups of regular whole milk yogurt in a cheesecloth-lined colander over a bowl and let drain for 2 hours in the refrigerator. The volume should reduce to 1 cup.

Kanten, also called agar-agar, is a vegetable gelatin. This dish is a great palate refresher for a warm summer evening.

In this dessert, ricotta holds the berries in place while providing a wonderfully creamy texture and slightly sweet flavor.