Weeknight Meals

For the pesto mixture, executive food editor Kemp M. Minifie switches from pine nuts to pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, and she incorporates flat-leaf parsley in with the basil. To top it all off she adds homemade bread crumbs. It's not quite Italian anymore, but it works.

Feeling burnt-out on the same old chicken salad from the corner deli? We were, too, until our love was rekindled by this lively version, studded with crunchy walnuts, plump grapes, and little beads of salty capers.

Though slightly unconventional, white wine works incredibly well with steak.

Give everyday chicken cutlets a delicious lift with a tangy-savory combination of fresh tarragon and capers. If you don't have a spice mill, a coffee grinder works, too—just be sure to wipe it out before and after using.

Spicy and bright, this salsa makes chicken breasts party-worthy, and would also be a superb topper for pork or fish.

Falafel makes a great appetizer when paired with hummus for dipping. For a quick meal, serve atop a salad or inside pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and a drizzle of tahini.

Aromatic caraway seeds lend a delicate nutty flavor to the chicken and balance nicely with a side of tart, sweet shredded cabbage.

Grated lemon peel brightens up this light and satisfying pasta, which makes delicious use of root vegetables.

This combination of several different varieties of roasted onions, crunchy croutons, and melted cheese is great with the pork.

Rustic and delicious, this healthy meatless stew is a hearty main course.

This is an incredibly simple recipe with an impressive payoff: Golden roasted chicken is dressed up with beautiful bunches of sweet grapes.

Look for carrots and parsnips that are about two inches in diameter at their thickest point; you don't want them to be too big or too slender.