Seafood

This recipe comes from my brother, Chris, a high-school athletic coach. If you think stuffed mushrooms sound too foofy for Super Bowl Sunday, I refer you to "Little" Brother. He tells me they are winners every time. There's plenty of room for play in the recipe. The only firm rule: Use more crab than cream cheese.

Shao mai are classic Chinese steamed dumplings. They make a nice starter or an innovative addition to a buffet.

Serve this saucy dish with steamed rice or crusty French bread.

In this light yet intensely flavored dish, the fish is baked, then served with a sauce rich in Asian flavors. Offer with steamed white rice, and pour white wine or Champagne.

Shrimp in a garlicky sauce is a classic— and a classically simple— Spanish tapa. It is usually cooked and presented in individual shallow earthenware casseroles, but it can just as easily be made in a larger casserole or skillet. Offer crusty bread alongside.

An elegant soup that can be prepared a day ahead. Begin the occasion by passing smoked chicken canapés. To make them, spread mayonnaise over crustless sandwich bread, and top with thinly sliced smoked chicken. Cut the open-face sandwiches into triangles, and garnish each of them with a few onion sprouts.

At the restaurant, they use black cod, also known as sablefish. We call for more readily available white cod fillets.

This dish comes together quickly, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner. Just add some steamed rice or sauté baby potatoes and a tossed green salad

"Dinner at the Montauk Seafood Grill was an ideal way to cap off a day of skiing in Vail," Julie Harris of Redwood City, California. "The salmon covered with an unusual breadcrumb coating is something I would like to make for a dinner party."

The verde on the succulent swordfish comes from the cilantro and chili marinade and a silky avocado mayonnaise. Start out with salsa and tortilla chips, and serve Mexican beer throughout the meal.

Don’t bother peeling the shrimp for an everyday meal — just team them with cole-slaw and toasted bread (and napkins); follow it all with sliced bananas and pecan cookies. When it’s time for a party, peel the shrimp, and place them on angel hair pasta tossed with a colorful selection of roasted bell peppers. Vanilla bread pudding with brandy sauce is a special finale.

You will need three pots for this recipe.

There are innumerable recipes for this favorite English breakfast dish. Some call for Béchamel sauce, some for cheese. This version is easy.