Your Labor Day menu, from cocktails to some really cool desserts

You could think of Labor Day as the unofficial end of summer. But we prefer to think of it as a three-day celebration of California -- our produce, our farmers markets, and our climate, which pretty much allows us to cook outdoors all year round. So we culled some of our favorite recipes to come out of the L.A. Times Test Kitchen. We have cocktails, and plenty of grilling and entree ideas (such as the Texas Hickory smoked brisket with coffee barbecue sauce) as well as plenty of really cool desserts. (No oven needed!)

But you might want something else. Like appies. Or some sides. So browse through our recipes at latimes.com/recipes. And bookmark that address -- we're constantly adding new recipes.

Happy Labor Day!

-- Rene Lynch

Photo credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times