Here's three summer favorite salads that can each be made in 10 minutes or less and require no cooking. Each is a great choice for different reasons. The ramen noodle salad is popular for warm weather gatherings because it doesn't contain mayonnaise and it's the one people come back for seconds. The other two nice things are that a fifth grader could make this ramen noodle salad and the ingredients are quite inexpensive. Broccoli salad is quite expensive to buy prepared so why not just make it yourself? It's extremely easy if you use microwavable bacon and the broccoli slaw mixes. The slaw is also much easier to eat than the floretts. If you like the look of the traditional broccoli salad but just don't have the time, use the slaw and throw in a few floretts. And lastly, this cucumber salad recipe is the taste of summer to me. Surprise ingredient is mayo instead of ranch or sour cream. I prefer it because I always have it on hand.

Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe

Ramen Noodle Salad Ingredients:

1 bag cole slaw

1 bag ramen (oriental) noodles - no flavor packet

1 small bag sunflower seeds

1 small bag cashews (crushed)

1 bunch - green onions

Ramen Noodle Salad Dressing Ingredients:

½ cup canola oil

¼ cup sugar

2T soy sauce

2 T vinegar

Ramen Noodle Salad Instructions

Shake or stir sauce ingredients together. Combine salad ingredients. Add dressing right before serving. Two important notes:

- make sure you DO NOT add the flavor pack from the noodles

- do not put dressing on until right before serving since the crunchy noodles is what makes this salad so good.

TIP 1: If you're going to be going to other parties or making again for yourself, make extra dressing and just keep it on hand.

TIP 2: Make the dressing the day before so you can whip this salad together in 5 minutes and rush out the door.

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli Salad Ingredients:

1 bag broccoli slaw or florets of 1 bunch of broccoli floretts

5 pieces microwavable bacon

½ cup sunflower seeds

½ cup raisins - (I usually use 1 ½ of the little boxes)

Broccoli Salad Sauce Ingredients:

¾ cup mayo

¼ cup sugar

2 T vinegar (any kind)

Broccoli Salad Instructions:

Microwave bacon for 30 seconds and crumble. Combine sauce ingredients and shake. Add remaining ingredients and stir or shake. Chill covered until serving time.

Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe

Cucumber Salad Ingredients:

2 English cucumbers - sliced (the long ones with minimal seeds)

¼ Vidalia or red onion - chopped fine,

2 T. vinegar (best with garlic vinegar found at most grocery stores these days but also fine with stand-bys like cider vinegar),

2 T. mayo (or more if you like it really creamy,)

salt, garlic powder and pepper to taste

Cucumber Salad Instructions:

Combine vinegar, mayo and spices and stir or shake together before you put in cucumbers. Add other ingredients and stir or shake to coat. I use either gallon ziploc bags or tupperware type containers with lids.

For more homemade easy recipes and one really great ham, go to pams-hams.com.