Starter

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"Thai is my favorite Asian cuisine, and the Thai noodles at Q, A Thai Bistro, here in Forest Hills just may be my favorite dish," writes Loren Kliegerman of Forest Hills, New York. "Any idea how it is prepared?"

If smoked paprika isn't available, substitute four teaspoons of chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, which are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores, and in the Latin American foods section of many supermarkets.

Try this as part of a barbecue buffet.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Cabrales Cheese Soufflés.

The pink-peppercorn garnish gives this chilled soup a pretty spring look.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Accompany this light main course with Buttery Rice Timbales.

Simmering cobs in the corn-broth mixture gives the soup extra flavor.

Gratins feature a crust of melted cheese and sometimes breadcrumbs. Serve with good bread and a salad for lunch or a light dinner.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

These mini tostadas make terrific appetizers. The topping is seasoned with cumin, serrano chili and cilantro.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The bright green of the fried asparagus with the yellow egg sauce and the orange salmon roe topping makes a colorful display.

Garlic bread is perfect on the side. You can find Creole or Cajun seasoning in the spice section of most supermarkets.

The crust of this tart is tender and quite crumbly.

"Dinner at J. Alexander’s in nearby Troy is a treat my family enjoys regularly, and there’s one thing we always order: the chicken soup. says Katie Randlett of Wixom, Michigan."Although it sounds ordinary, this version definitely isn’t — it has a rich, creamy texture, and it’s full of goodies like pasta, sugar snap peas and carrots." Sugar snap peas add crunch to this comforting soup. The restaurant uses penne pasta, but macaroni would also work well.