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Gumbo is a soup or stew that's full of spice and rich flavors, and it's the perfect warm-up meal for a cold winter's day.  With roots in Louisiana and the Southern Gulf Coast, gumbos are thick, hearty, and zesty.

Hot, wholesome, and delicious. This is perfect for Thanksgiving or a winter supper

I grew up making quesadillas, the benefit of having a Hispanic mother who is a great cook. "Queso" is cheese in Spanish. And a quesadilla is a toasted tortilla with melted cheese inside. But in addition to cheese, you can put practically anything in a quesadilla. My favorites are mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, and onions. I don't cook these ingredients first, but it really is a matter of taste. You could if you wanted to.

If you like chili hot then try this spicy chili recipe!

Indulge in this heavenly fudge - once you have the basic recipe down you can add endless variations by adding other flavors, nuts and fruit.

Lemonade is one of the classic summer drinks. The juxtaposition of tart and sweet gives this simple drink wonderfully complex flavor. It is a great refreshing drink to pack up in your picnic basket.

Let everyone choose their favorite ingredients for these easy to make omelets.

Load up on vegetables with this colorful vegetarian chili.  Sprinkle a little cheese on top or eat your bowl of chili with a yummy hunk of bread to make this a complete protein.  Chopped green onions also make a nice garnish.

Make sure you buy Alaskan King Crab - the stuff that comes from Russia is typically freezer burned and not nearly as sweet.

Making french toast is actually fairly simple.  To make french toast you will want 1-3 pieces of nice bread per person. To make this simple Cinnamon Raisin French Toast, instead of using a nice white or crusty bread, use cinnamon raisin bread.

Serve at least 2 slices per person.

Marinating the beef for 30 minutes or so makes the meat tender and juicy - perfect for a summer cook-out.

Nothing says carnival like the taste of a corn dog, slathered in ketchup and mustard. Suit this recipe to your family by trying different types of hot dogs. You may find you prefer all beef dogs, spicy dogs, or some type that's unique to your area.

October is a great time to find fresh squash. You will find an abundance of squash, from acorn squash, butternut squash, and zucchini to pumpkins, spaghetti squash, and hybrid varieties like honey bear. Squash is one of those foods that can be great cooked in many different ways. They can be baked, turned into pie filling, roasted, steamed, and cubed or pureed for soup. Before your local farmers market closes for the winter, make a trip to pick up some squash so you can fix this sumptuous soup for your friends and family.

Once you've grilled a turkey breast you'll never want to roast one in the oven again.