Chicken

A puree of spinach and basil lends color and flavor to this Thai-style main dish.

A tangy tomato-herb sauce and Parmesan accent chicken that's cooked in a flash.

You can find the black bean sauce in the oriental section of your supermarket.

Serve this delicious curried chicken dish with steamed basmati rice or Indian flatbreads.

More supermarkets are carrying fresh rabbit, as people rediscover its delicate flavor. Braising helps to keep it moist and tender. If you have trouble finding rabbit, however, you can substitute bone-in chicken, skin removed.

I like chicken to remain moist, but it must be cooked through; so, if necessary, cook longer than recommended here. If cutting the meat in thirds is too large to handle, cut into four pieces.

Sweet, sour, and meaty, this is summer food to eat with your hands.

Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 2 hr

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 4 hr

Offer either brown or white rice and Asian beer, like Tsingtao. The chicken is especially tender because of the egg white and cornstarch coating.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

Doris Murphy of Pompano Beach, Florida, writes: "When I was raising my children, the dishes I made were definitely home style to suit everyone's tastes; but even without the demands of feeding a family, I still prefer simpler recipes. Nevertheless, I notice that most of my kids are pretty adventurous cooks. Maybe they did get some of that creativity from me; when I recall the potato-meat-and-vegetable meals my mother served, I realize that I did branch out a bit."