Fish

Tarator, a creamy nut and garlic blend, is one of Turkey's finest sauces. It traditionally enhances cooked vegetables, fish or shellfish, and it is also a lovely dip for pita bread. Although the true tarator uses hazelnuts, local cooks often make it with whatever nut grows in their area.

This flavorful entrée is very low in fat.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Using a low-fat cheese such as feta makes for a rich but lean topping. The newer feta cheeses with sun-dried tomatoes and basil are especially good.

Goat cheese and fennel prove to be the perfect partners for smoked salmon. Pour glasses of Champagne or Sauvignon Blanc.

Serve with: Pickled beets and baby potatoes sprinkled with parsley. Dessert: Lemon bars from the bakery.

This recipe can be made in 45 minutes or less.

"On a recent visit to Las Vegas, my father and I ate at Malibu Chan's," writes Stephanie Flanders of Simi Valley, California. "I had the sea bass, and I'm already craving it again. I'm hoping to add it to my recipe collection."

To me, this is the most authentic and most important recipe in this book. It is the gold standard for chowder: a hearty main course with deep flavors, luxurious texture, and generous chunks of fish, onion, and potato. New England Fish Chowder is easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and doesn't require you to be fussy or exact. After making this chowder a few times, you will begin to understand the Zen of chowder.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 45 min

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 30 min

"My husband, Don, and I both like to cook," writes Lisa Pendelton of Pasadena, California. "We run our own architectural firm. The business is rewarding but stressful, so spending time in the kitchen is a wonderful distraction. We divide the work and always help each other out. Actually, that's also the way we work at the office." Lisa's salmon is also great with her lemon cream: Mix 2/3 cup sour cream with 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 45 min

For a real southern meal, pair this dish with the bacon scallion hush puppies.