Yogurt

Greek yogurt, if you can find it, is incredibly thick and creamy and a delight to eat. It shows up in several guises on the Greek table — as a savory dip, in sauces, or for dessert. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr (includes draining)

Raita is a yogurt salad, and integral--and cooling--part of an Indian meal. It can be prepared with raw and/or cooked vegetables (we use both here) or with fruit.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This breakfast treat tastes decadent but is really quite low in fat. It's topped with maple-spiked yogurt.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"Last summer I visited my sister in Los Angeles for a week of shopping, going to the beach and dining out," writes Donna M. Savage of Framingham, Massachusetts. "My favorite meal of the trip was at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. I had an Indian-style chicken salad that was wonderfully spicy and flavorful. I'd love to try the recipe at home and was hoping that you could get it for me."

Serve over steamed basmati rice. Garam masala, a spice mixture, is available at Indian markets and some supermarkets.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The sautéed fennel and carrots is an excellent accompaniment to these chops. Boiled potatoes and sautéed greens would also be a good match.

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20's — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Over the years, my cooking style has become more casual; I make dishes that are not too demanding, but still special for company."

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.