Root Vegetable

I love the nutty, sweet, and spicy flavors of parsnips. Their unpopularity is a mystery to me—it seems many people don't realize how delicious they can be. This dish brings out their best qualities.

The shrimp could also be skewered and grilled instead of broiled. Either way, they're lovely arranged atop pimiento-flecked rice pilaf and served with steamed snow peas and a basket of warm corn muffins. Blueberry or strawberry shortcakes are the perfect dessert.

Salsa Mexicana Variations of this fresh tomato-based salsa show up on restaurant tables all over Mexico, where it is called pico de gallo, salsa fresca, or salsa mexicana. The bright flavor of the salsa adds sparkle to anything it touches — quesadillas; grilled chicken, fish or steak; tamales; tacos; and, of course, tortilla chips. This recipe is an accompaniment for Crispy Pork with Avocado Salsa and Tomato Salsa .

This is a simplified version of Havana Harry's recipe; at the restaurant, they deep-fry the pork after braising it.

Karen Azar of North Providence, Rhode Island, writes: "My boyfriend and I recently dined at Terra Mar Grill in the Saybrook Point Inn, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He had the campanelle pasta, and it reminded him of a meal his mother used to make. Could you please obtain the recipe?" Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

This fresh, uncooked version of a classic pasta sauce is also delicious served over rice. The rich nutty flavor of brown rice stands up well to the piquant flavors of the sauce. If you prefer a cooked sauce, you can saute the garlic and tomatoes in the olive oil, then add the remaining ingredients except the rice and heat through.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Caesar Salad with Pepper-Grilled Tuna.

These exciting flavors complement seared or grilled scallops, fish fillets, or chicken.

From Lidia's in Kansas City, an informal company dish that's sure to satisfy.

Offer these as a starter or as a light lunch with a salad of greens tossed in vinaigrette.

Pluots are a great stand-in for true plums in this recipe.

Ceviche de Dorado con Chile Jalapeño y Coco The fish is marinated in fresh lime juice (and therefore partly "cooked").

In the cuisine of Spain, a tortilla is an open-face omelet.

To impart smoky flavor to food when using an outdoor gas grill, add a handful of wood chips (soaked in cold water 30 minutes and drained) to a smoker box and place it under the grates and on top of ceramic briquettes in the far right or left corner of the grill.