Summer

Jamaican jerk seasoning — a blend of chiles, thyme, garlic, onion, and spices — gives the grilled fish a reddish-brown finish. It's a supermarket staple now; look for it in the spice aisle. Serve with: Rice salad and grilled squash.

This light, spicy soup is delicious hot or chilled. The sautéed aromatics turn the broth a rich red-orange, more reminiscent of tomato than watermelon. See if your guests can guess the main ingredient. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 hr (3 hr if serving chilled)

(OMELETTE AUX ASPERGES)

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Sharpen your cutting and chopping skills and see how to prepare salmon like a pro with our technique videos.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Corn muffins, coleslaw and boiled green beans round out the main course. Finish with peach pie à la mode.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Here's another old-fashioned dessert that's on the come back trail.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

A Dijon mustard vinaigrette brings all the flavors together. If you can't find basmati rice, white long-grain rice is fine.

This pie is made from the overflowing bounty of the backyard garden. Fresh corn and zucchini seasoned with dill bake underneath Parmesan-crusted tomatoes to make a scrumptious entrée that can be served warm or at room temperature.

If you don't have a cherry pitter, use the side of a knife to crush each cherry against the work surface. Once the flesh has been separated, remove the pit. Be sure to wear an apron; cherries tend to squirt when crushed.

An early version of this recipe appeared in Fannie Farmer's 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional sitting time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.