Labor Day: We don't know why we celebrate it, except to ask ourselves, "Where did summer go?" Instead of doing that or concentrating on a list of must-make end-of-summer recipes, just consider Labor Day weekend a welcome introduction to transition-season fare. From burgers and popsicles to football appetizers and slow simmering soups, this is our must-make list for Labor Day and into September.

1. Because you will be grilling a burger sometime over the weekend, mix it up and make these sausage burgers!
2. A classic fall-cooking transition — 7-ingredient easy meatloaf. Besides, who doesn't love leftover meatloaf sandwiches for lunch the next day?
3. This pizza is rustic and flavorful, with artichoke, buffalo mozzarella, black olives and prosciutto as the star ingredients.
4. Since summer isn't quite over, make these salted caramel flan popsicles.
5. You need a side for burger #1, and peaches are still in season — bourbon peach barbecue baked beans. Enough said.
6. The simple and classic fettuccine carbonara — best served with a rich, unctuous Chardonnay.
7. Football season has started back up, so serve these bacon-wrapped mini jalapeño corn muffins as an appetizer.
8. Consider this corn, bacon and clam stew an at-home end-of-summer clam bake.
9. Breakfast never looked so good with these maple pecan blueberry pancakes.
10. This curried lentil kale soup with mushrooms is on my list as the first meal I am going to make when the temperature changes and the leaves start to fall.

Happy Labor Day from everyone at Lot18!