Weeknight Meals

Horenso No Goma Miso Ae Some miso varieties are quite salty, but the Saikyo shiro miso called for in this sauce has a sweet, caramel-like taste.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 hr

Easy, elegant fare from chef John Jones at Renato's in Palm Beach.

If the four-inch tortillas used at Café Iguana in Denver, Colorado, are hard to find, the standard five- to six-inch ones also work, or they can be trimmed to the smaller size.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Giving up fried shrimp is probably easier than giving up, say, chocolate cake, but only because so much fried shrimp is so badly prepared. Here is a terrific version, complete with tartar sauce for dipping.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Fresh strawberries and cookies from the bakery round out the meal nicely. Pour a dry white wine or iced tea. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This variation on the Chinese classic incorporates jícama, which retains the crisp texture of water chestnuts even when cooked.

If you make this recipe with fresh peas, keep in mind that it will take about 30 minutes to shell them.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A bit of water whisked into the eggs tenderizes them. You may fill this omelette with anything you like, of course. It makes two very generous servings. For the mushroom and goat cheese variation, sauté 1 pound of thickly sliced mushrooms in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until they are golden and most of their liquid has evaporated. Use about 4 ounces fresh goat cheese, and 1/2 cup of chervil sprigs (you may substitute flat-leaf parsley), which you mince at the very last minute, to take advantage of their flavorful oils.

Also try the flavored mayonnaise on roast beef or ham sandwiches.

Delicious with roasted meats or chicken.