I like to keep bought, cooked shrimp in my freezer. It is readily available in the freezer case at the market. They can easily be turned into a great meal with very little effort. Here I added them to a spicy sauce made with mayonnaise and horseradish. Adding some blueberries and red bell pepper cubes makes this a perfect meal to celebrate July ...Read more

Here’s a light version of the Italian classic Bolognese sauce that’s quick, easy and won’t break the calorie bank. A mixture of different sliced mushrooms creates the base for this vegetarian dinner. I use portobello and shitake mushrooms. If your market sells other wild mushrooms such as oyster, morels or chanterelle, you can use them to ...Read more

At a recent dinner we were offered a pina colada, a frothy, refreshing cocktail made with rum and coconut milk. It’s a popular drink in the Florida Keys. It started me thinking about the sunny islands of the Keys with the abundance of sweet fresh fish. I decided to use rum and coconut milk as a glaze for fresh mahi-mahi in this quick dinner to...Read more

Ripe avocado mixed with tomatoes, and hot pepper sauce makes a tasty, vegetarian sandwich. Adding a little bought pesto sauce adds more flavor. This sandwich is perfect for a quick dinner.

You may have to plan a little in advance to ripen your avocado. One tip to help avocados ripen is to remove the stem and place them in a bag in a warm spot. ...Read more

Looking for a really, juicy burger for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend or for anytime you want a burger. Try this one. Mushrooms add an earthy flavor to lean ground beef. They also make the burgers juicy.

The mushrooms are cooked before they are added to the ground meat. Be sure to cook them until they are dry, with no liquid left in the pan....Read more

Here’s a fun recipe that’s full of flavor and easy to make. Pappardelle is a wide noodle that captures this sauce made with lots of garlic and white wine. The combination of flavors and textures is pleasing and makes this a one-dish meal that you can enjoy as a family or with friends.

Helpful Hints:

— You can use any type of shrimp.

—...Read more

It’s a treat to savor wild salmon at this time of year. The season started May 1 and runs through August. Here’s a new and easy way to cook salmon. Place salmon cubes on skewers and grill or broil them.

Zucchini and cherry tomatoes are also included in the kabobs. I like to place them on separate skewers. They take more time to grill than ...Read more

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. You can celebrate Mom with this tasty, light dinner. This Ginger Sesame Chicken Salad is easy to make and takes only minutes. It uses bought cooked or rotisserie chicken.

Sesame oil and fresh ginger flavor the salad. I like to use toasted sesame oil that can be found in the Asian section of most markets...Read more

You can whip up this salad dinner in 5 minutes. I tasted a similar one at a local restaurant and was delighted to find a delicious, filling, light vegetarian supper dish. I decided to re-create it at home.

Beets add an earthy flavor and color to the salad. You don't have to cook raw beets. Cooked, ready-to-eat beets are available in the produce...Read more

A simple sweet and sour sauce brightens this pan-seared salmon. Using the microwave oven and only one skillet makes clean up easy. While the salmon sautes in the skillet, the bok choy and rice cook in the microwave. They all come together for a flavorful, easy dinner.

If pressed for time, use a store-bought sweet and sour sauce instead of the ...Read more

I created this dinner thinking of spring and holidays. Lamb chops flavored with rosemary and garlic is a perfect dish for this holiday weekend or any weeknight dinner. They’re served with baby green beans, which are similar to haricots verts. They may also be called French green beans.

Another harbinger of spring is creamer and new potatoes. ...Read more

It’s easy to dress up boneless, skinless chicken thighs with this nutty walnut crust. It keeps them juicy and adds a flavorful crunch. The recipe also works with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. While the chicken bakes in the oven, the rigatoni and broccoli cook together on the stove.

Helpful Hints:

— You can use pecans or macadamia ...Read more