Salad

Brush thick slices of country bread with olive oil to grill alongside the vegetables. To begin, dice some cucumber into chilled vichyssoise (either from a can or from restaurant takeout); offer watermelon and bakery brownies for dessert.

Pea shoots are the tender, leafy branch tips of edible pea plants (not to be confused with flowering sweet peas, which are poisonous). There are huge variations in taste among shoots from different varieties, but the sweetest are those from edible podded peas.

Toss salad with the Sunshine Vinaigrette just before serving, so that the greens won't discolor.

Buttermilk and lemon juice add some tang; carrots and celery add crunch.

Italians like to have salad after the entrée, so do the same, if you like.

This vinaigrette is great on any type of mixed green, pasta, or marinated vegetable salads. This recipe is an accompaniment for Tuscan White Bean Salad with Spinach, Olives, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

Matt McMillan, Big Bowl's executive chef, threw together these items for his lunch one day. We ran it as a special the next week. It's simple and delicious.

Steve Silverman of South Burlington, Vermont, writes: "In my cooking I tend to be very quick and health-conscious. During the summer, my wife, Mary, and I usually grill chicken or fish and make salads. I'll use whatever fresh vegetables and ingredients I have on hand and come up with a wonderful meal for the two of us." To make this a substantial main course, add 1 1/4 pounds cooked shrimp.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr

Yukon Gold potatoes cut into one-inch pieces can be substituted.

This refreshing dish can be prepared and chilled two hours before serving.

This salad is so much lighter and fresher-tasting than mayonnaise-based versions. It gets crispy sweetness from sugar snaps and peppers and nuttiness from tahini. Keep in mind that tahini can turn rancid rather quickly (even in unopened cans, in our experience). We recommend buying it from a place with a high turnover, such as a Middle Eastern market or a natural foods store. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr