Parsley

A sprinkling of orange peel and parsley contrasts with the spicy crust on the salmon fillets. Serve with corn on the cob and a crisp, cold Chardonnay.

This satisfying British staple is an excellent use for leftover mashed potatoes. You will need two cups for this recipe; bring them to room temperature before using.

Serve this flavorful saffron-scented dish as either an appetizer or a main course.

This salad of bulgur and fresh mint is a specialty of Rachel's sister-in-law.

Part of this stuffing is used in Crown Roast of Pork with Sausage Stuffing. To serve as a side dish, place all of the stuffing in a baking dish, cover and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.

Here's a party main dish that is easy to prepare and makes a lovely presentation.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

At the beach in Malta, the locals eat fried rabbit, rather than burgers, with fries. I've adapted the recipe by using chicken and sweetening the gravy with a touch of honey.

A simple roast potato becomes a thing of beauty thanks to humble parsley.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

You can save some prep time by asking a butcher to cut the chicken thighs in half for you. This dish is particularly good served over orzo.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 25 min Chuck blade steaks are a wonderful cut — luxurious flavor at a bargain price. They may appear under different names — flatiron or book steaks, for instance — in your butcher case, but they're easy to spot: Neat ovals that are slightly larger than your palm and bisected by a slender white ribbon — of gristle.

If you can't find pancetta, you can substitute regular bacon.

"My first real job was as a paralegal — but I hated it," writes Marcia Porch of Winter Park, Florida. "There were plenty of signs that my interests lay elsewhere; it just took me a while to recognize them. My co-workers caught on faster: They would tease me because there were always cookbooks on my desk. So I started moonlighting at a bakery on the weekends. Eventually this led to a culinary career that has included owning a catering business. These days, what I make at home has to have do-ahead steps and no complicated ingredients, and be healthful and simple to assemble. " If you have trouble finding plain bulgur (cracked wheat), use one cup of bulgur (but not the seasoning packets) from two boxes of wheat salad mix, found in the rice and pasta section of the supermarket.