Shiitake Mushroom

Try braised lettuce flavored with thyme, carrots and garlic to accompany this satisfying dish.

Uncork a Zinfandel or a dry Riesling.

This pretty slaw with a celery seed and cider vinegar dressing is perfect for a Fourth of July picnic.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

If you don't happen to have any day-old corn bread on hand, just follow our recipe — fresh regular corn bread may be too moist. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 hr (includes making corn bread)

Green beans go upscale in this fresh take on a favorite Thanksgiving dish.

Beefy shiitake mushrooms stand in for the standard ground pork in this version of ma po tofu. What to drink: The bit of heat here calls for a spicy white wine with ripe fruit and crisp acidity, such as a Riesling from Alsace or Germany's Rheingau.

"Recently I had dinner at a fine restaurant with a peculiar name: The Place Next to the San Juan Ferry," says Beth Fogarty Day of Redmond, Washington. "It's right by the water in Friday Harbor, Washington. I'd love the recipe for the mushroom and goat cheese appetizer."

This recipe is a great use for cold leftover rice. Order extra rice with Chinese takeout or make a double batch of your own one night — you can keep it, chilled, up to 1 week. Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 35 min

The following recipe calls for semiboneless quail. This means that the rib cage and backbone have been removed, but the wings and legs are left intact.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Make this intriguing sauce ahead, then just heat it up while the pasta cooks.