Using the right marinade can make the difference between an amazing meal and a mediocre one. Though I am constantly trying other types, I've found the best marinades come from Thai cuisine. It's the sweet-sour flavor combined with spice and just the right amount of saltiness that does it for me. The good thing is, you needn't go out to a Thai restuarant or buy a Thai marinade to get that wonderful flavor. Instead, make your own Thai marinade easily at home with one of these Top Thai Marinade Recipes. As a bonus, most of these marinades can also be served as a side sauce when you're ready to serve - just reserve a little of the marinade when you're making it, and you have a ready-to-eat sauce to drizzle over your finished creation, adding even more taste-satisfaction. ENJOY! (pictured: Thai Sweet Chili Sauce Marinade, photo & recipe by D. Schmidt)

Celebrate the warmth of early summer by whipping up one of these beautiful Thai Dessert Recipes. Light and tropical-tasting, with a pleasant hint of the exotic, these desserts are perfect for late spring/early summer eating and will be sure to please one and all. And as a bonus, Thai desserts are naturally lower in fat and calories than most Western-style desserts, while remaining high in flavor, texture, and taste, so you don't have to feel guilty eating them (and second-helpings are allowed!). Many are also lactose and gluten free as well as vegan, which makes it easy to please everyone if you happen to be cooking for a crowd this weekend. ENJOY! (pictured: Mango-Pineapple Upsidedown Cake with Caramel Sauce, photo & recipe by D. Schmidt)

It's nearly summer, and that means salmon is back in season! But don't fall into the rut of always cooking this delectable fish the same way. For a little culinary inspiration, check out these amazing Top Thai Salmon Recipes! The 'big four flavors' of Thai cuisine (sweet, sour, salty, and spicy) marry extremely well with salmon, providing plenty of taste without overwhelming the rich flavor of the fish. And the marinades/sauces that make up these dishes are good for you too: low in fat and calories, but very high in taste - a perfect compliment to the health benefits of salmon. Give one a try for dinner tonight! (shown here: Fillet of Salmon in a Tangy Thai Sauce - photo & recipe by D.Schmidt)

Summer is just around the corner, and what could be more summery to serve at dinner than a fresh & beautiful new salad? These incredible-tasting Thai Salad Recipes will have you loving your salad and eating plenty of it! Refreshingly original, Thai salads are incredibly scrumptious, amazingly healthy, plus low in fat and calories (many of my readers have written in to tell me they have been losing weight since trying my salads).  In fact, Thai salads are so flavorful, you forget all about needing a heavy dressing to achieve total taste satsifaction.  Great as side dishes for any meal OR as your main course, Thai salads are eye-catchingly beautiful and wonderful to serve guests as well as family - they tend to impress at any kind of get-together. Here's to a fresh & flavor-exciting salad season ahead! (shown here: Thai Pomelo/Grapefruit Salad)