Basil

Juicy cantaloupe makes a refreshing salsa for grilled chicken or fish. For a milder salsa, discard all the chile seeds.

This quick side dish goes well with fish, such as arctic char, or grilled chicken.

Soba noodles can be found in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets.

"I came up with this recipe to make use of the immersion blender that I received as a gift," writes Heather Prudhon of Santa Clara, California. "It makes a good quantity of sauce and tastes great served over rice."

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 10 min

It's best to serve this lobster salad right after you make it, rather than preparing it in advance. If the salad stands for more than half an hour, pineapple enzymes will alter the texture of the lobster meat. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Tomato gratin or potato, red pepper, and fennel salad would make a terrific accompaniment to the fish.

Pasta with shellfish is an old Italian tradition. Have crusty bread on hand to serve.

Serve with: Grilled asparagus and pasta tossed with Parmesan and chopped mint.

Healthy eating was always a priority in my mother's kitchen, and this colorful, delicious dish continues to be a staple at our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables. Using dried bread crumbs will create a crispy topping, while fresh bread crumbs produce a more tender result. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

These powerfully seasoned chicken breasts grill up smoky and moist. Serve with minted iced tea and Asian beers. For dessert, offer mango sorbet with pineapple.

No-boil noodles cut down on the prep time.