For much of the country, Labor Day is all about backyard barbecues. But here in Arizona, it's still a little toasty to be standing over a hot grill. That said, having a Monday off work is reason enough to have a party. 

Whether you're hosting or attending a potluck or party, there can never be too many salads or desserts on offer. These recipes from cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller are easy to make and tried-and-true crowd pleasers perfect for your next casual gathering.

And the best part — at least this time of year — they can all be made in the comfort of your air-conditioned kitchen.

Here's what we're cooking over Labor Day weekend.

Get outta town:These Arizona events are worth the drive

This classic salad is simple and since there aren’t many ingredients in Caesar salad, it's all the more important that you use high quality inputs since each one needs to bring a lot to the dish. The results are definitely more than the sum of the parts.

Taste of summer:How to make Sonoran sopa de elote

Makes: 4 servings as a main dish, 6 as an appetizer

Southwestern classic:How chop suey became a staple of my Sonoran family's kitchen

This salad is great for entertaining as it's easy to double or triple to serve a crowd and it's prep-ahead friendly. You can make pasta salad up to two days in advance (it's better the second day). Simply store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Speaking of pasta:Upgrade your weeknight dinner with this easy recipe for penne alla vodka

Meet your new, go-to potato salad recipe. Feel free to make adjustments to seasonings and mix-ins to suit your taste.

Add some chorizo:A 'secret' recipe for Sonoran chorizo

A galette is an easy alternative to pie and a great way to celebrate seasonal fruit. This recipe calls for peaches, but it would also be great with plums or pears.

More to bake:A foolproof recipe for carrot cake

Homemade ice cream? Now that's a flex. Just make sure your heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk are chilled before using. This ensures you'll get the most volume in your whipped cream. To be extra certain your cream whips up perfectly, you can also chill your mixing bowl and whisk. 

Makes: About 2½ pints, more with mix-ins

More flavor variations:turn creamy vanilla ice cream into mint chocolate chip

Questions or comments? Email the culinary team at cooking@azcentral.com.