Shrimp

You can add some diced red bell pepper to give this full-flavored dish a splash of color.

Tarragon brings its distinctive flavor to this salad. Serve it alongside the strata.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Sweet, salty, and spicy, nuoc cham is the indispensable sauce of Vietnam's cuisine. It's a favorite dipping sauce for spring rolls and for fresh rice-paper rolls such as these.

Donna Knowlton of Atlanta, Georgia, writes: "As the oldest of five children growing up in rural West Virginia, I was always helping in the kitchen. Today I mostly cook pasta and seafood dishes because they're so easy. My husband is a doctor and works long hours, but we still like sharing a meal at the end of the day. I don't want to be in the kitchen late at night making something complicated, so I rely on dishes that can be ready in minutes."

A fruity, spicy Sauvignon Blanc would be perfect with this elegant dish.

Using shrimp instead of chicken in this recipe makes for an equally delicious soup.

Serve this entrée with crusty bread to help catch all the juices, and pour a light Italian white wine, such as Pinot Grigio. For dessert, spoon minted fresh berries atop vanilla frozen yogurt.

Chipotle chilies are the secret to this sassy cocktail sauce.

A thin but flavorful low-fat sauce that serves as a dipping sauce and marinade.

This recipe comes from my mom, Loretta Anderson.

Terrific for a first course or a side dish, this recipe is adapted from the lobster succotash at Kinkead's in Washington, D.C. Chef Bob Kinkead's original uses chunks of lobster, which can be substituted for the large shrimp called for here.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A colorful, fresh-tasting dish that comes together in minutes. Serve this with a mixed green salad and some bread.