Here's a quick barbecued chicken salad for Memorial Day weekend or anytime during the summer. Whether your plans include boating, swimming or just plain relaxing, it will give you time to enjoy the festivities.

The chicken, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers combine to make this a one-dish, quick meal. The potatoes are cooked in the ...Read more

This pork tenderloin coated with an Asian-spiced glaze is quick and easy. It can be made under the broiler or on a grill. I've given methods for both. Toasted sesame oil gives a slight smoky flavor to the pork. It can be found in most supermarkets. Plain sesame oil can be used.

Garlic and soy sauce flavor stir-fried broccoli and Chinese noodles...Read more

Make this quick and easy dinner or make it for anytime. Avocado and roast beef wrapped in a flour tortilla create a simple dinner. No need to turn on the stove for this wrap and salad.

The secret to a good wrap is to moisten the tortilla with a spread or oil. For this recipe, I sprayed the tortillas with olive oil spray. The spray adds flavor ...Read more

Tacos filled with charred poblano peppers and shrimp is a simple Mexican dish that's perfect for a Cinco de Mayo dinner. The holiday on May 5 celebrates the victory of Mexican forces over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Pinto beans with cotija cheese is a typical side dish from the Puebla area. Cotija ...Read more

This is a fiery version of a traditional pork and beans dinner. Boneless butterflied pork chops can be found in the meat section of most markets. If they are unavailable, buy boneless loin chops about 1 inch thick and slice them nearly in half horizontally, leaving one edge intact. Open the chops like a book and flatten. The meat will be about 1...Read more

You can stir up a colorful noodle/veggie meal in a flash with this lo mein dish. I chose the vegetables for their variety of flavors, colors and textures.

Most supermarkets sell fresh Chinese noodles in the refrigerated section of the produce department. Dried Chinese noodles can be found in the Chinese food section of the market. Either type ...Read more

Sweet-fresh basil, tomatoes, pasta and hard ricotta cheese (ricotta salata) are staples in Apulia. Apulia, known as Puglia in Italian, is the heel of the boot of Italy.

Ricotta salata is a milky-white hard sheep's milk cheese. It's used for grating and shaving.

Orecchiette is a pasta shaped like small round disks or little ears.

Helpful Hints...Read more

Red Flannel Hash is a tasty mixture of beef, potatoes and beets. It's a New England specialty and takes its name and color from the red beets.

This is a great recipe for leftover meat and potatoes. Simply add them to a skillet with some diced canned beets and the sauce ingredients from this recipe.

There are many versions using all types of ...Read more

With thoughts of spring, tender lamb gently sauteed and served with fresh mint rice is a perfect quick dinner. Cubes of lamb cut from the leg are best for this recipe. You may have to ask the meat department to cut the lamb for you. To save time, go to the meat department first and ask for lamb cut from the leg or for shish kabob lamb. You can ...Read more

This mock "risotto" made with orzo rather than rice makes a quick Italian-inspired supper with very little effort. Risotto made with rice takes about 30 minutes to make and needs to be constantly stirred. Using the rice-shaped orzo pasta means you can let it cook on its own with just an occasional stir.

Serve the risotto with this Italian salad...Read more

Cod, a popular Irish fish, is coated with an Irish whiskey sauce for a quick dinner that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day or for any quick dinner. Fresh chives add flavor and green color to celebrate the day.

Broccoli and Potatoes complete the meal. Start the potatoes first and the entire meal can be made in 20 minutes.

Helpful Hints:

--Look ...Read more

Brighten up your winter with this chicken cooked with rum and pineapple. It's a recipe I found on a recent vacation to the Caribbean island of Martinique. The French/Creole cuisine there creates intriguing, flavorful dishes. Rum is part of their culture and they like to use old rum, but any rum will work for this quick dish.

Helpful Hints:

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Roasted or other cooked chicken breast is used for this quick and easy Curried Chicken Pot Pie. Curry powder added to the sauce gives this pie an intriguing flavor. Using prepared ingredients from the supermarket, you can put this pie together in minutes and it's a one-pot meal.

A ready-to-bake pie crust makes this dish a breeze. This recipe ...Read more