Weeknight Meals

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Cavolo nero is a member of the kale family and is available year-round in the United States. The reason you might have trouble finding it at farm stands, specialty produce markets, or natural foods stores is because of its many aliases: Tuscan kale, black cabbage, lacinata, lacinato, dinosaur kale, flat black cabbage, thousand-headed cabbage. Its rich, sweet, almost meaty flavor will have you hooked with the first bite. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

This easy side dish would be great with the pork chops, the stuffed mushrooms, or the sirloin tip steaks. .

We loved L.A. chef Mary Sue Milliken's crisp baked-tortilla crackers in her pool-party menu (August 2000). Here, we invent our own version of them.

Pour a nice Gamay to enjoy alongside.

Serve this entrée with crusty bread to help catch all the juices, and pour a light Italian white wine, such as Pinot Grigio. For dessert, spoon minted fresh berries atop vanilla frozen yogurt.

This dish uses three vegetable-bin staples: onions, celery, and carrots. If you don't have any canned broth on hand, dissolve a bouillon cube in water.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Orange juice adds zip to the dressing.

This chicken makes a flavorful meal when combined with the Jasmine Rice and Carrot and Radish Salad . Steamed green beans and carrots would also make good sides.

Although bay leaves in this recipe smell delicious and look enticing, they should not be eaten because of their sharp edges.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Rather than frying many batches of small latkes on the stove, you can prepare two large ones that are browned in the oven, then cut into wedges. Offer the Three-Apple Applesauce alongside.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.