Summer

You'll have some leftover creamy ginger soy dressing for salad later in the week.

This recipe serves 4 as a main course if you set aside 2 chicken breasts for another meal. Otherwise, it serves 6.

It may appear very oily at first, but this dish comes together in the end without being the least bit heavy. We realize that not everyone will have 3 colanders on hand. You can also toss the vegetables with salt and let them drain in large bowls.

Greeks call puréed split peas fava, not to be confused with what we call fava beans. The combination of puréed split peas and honey-kissed eggplant compote makes for a very comforting dish.

Tapered eggplants and a mix of large and medium tomatoes will give your stacks a more graceful appearance.

Stars and studio moguls often do their wheeling and dealing at this legendary Hollywood haunt, where Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tyra Banks have been seen. Chef Sam Marvin tweaks dishes to anyone's liking (A-lister or otherwise) and purchases the freshest ingredients daily from local farmers' markets. Think of this colorful bowl as an alphabet soup of vitamins, delivering a healthy dose of A, B6, C, and K, not to mention lycopene, a potent antioxidant.

Head north of Sunset, and you will happen upon this live-music supper club tucked away in the hills of tony Bel Air. The swank venue features a stage surrounded by tables where you can spy toe-tapping regulars such as Nicolette Sheridan and Virginia Madsen taking in the soulful jazz tunes. You can make a meal of chef Sharon Funt's delicious flatbread appetizer; each serving provides more than 8 grams of fiber.

When leading ladies such as Christina Applegate and Kate Hudson crave a facial followed by some light fare, they venture to this day-spa-cum-café. Kinara's menu is slightly more indulgent than standard spa cuisine, featuring a cheese plate, steak, Champagne, and dessert. Of course, this treat does more than satisfy your sweet tooth — all the fruit in it made the USDA's list of the top 20 antioxidant-rich foods.

This West Hollywood Rat Pack hangout still attracts big-name diners like Sheryl Crow and Meg Ryan. The Italian bistro offers a variety of delectable dishes, including Ricotta Fritters With Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce and Grilled Artichokes. The popular entrée below boasts satiating lean protein and a helping of vitamin-rich carrots.

Healthy bonus: Antioxidants from tea, 5 calories per glass

Healthy bonus: Protein, vitamin B12, and niacin from tuna

Healthy bonus: Fiber and protein from lentils; vitamin A from carrots

Look for fresh sour cherries at farmers' markets. Or use Bing cherries instead and add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to the filling.

The fruit is tossed with a peach caramel sauce (juices from the peaches combined with homemade caramel) that adds depth of flavor to the filling. Keep an eye on this pie as it bakes; it browns quickly and so needs to be tented with foil.

Bake and freeze the Triple-Chocolate Cookies a day before filling them with ice cream. For convenience, you can make the homemade ice cream up to three days in advance. Purchased strawberry ice cream (softened slightly at room temperature until spreadable) also works in these sandwiches.

Jan Esterly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, writes: "Even though it gets cold where I live, I love grilling outside year-round. I make this amazing recipe only during summer, when I can buy perfect peaches from the roadside stands — like now." Jan also likes to serve these sweet-tart peaches with ice cream and waffles.