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For this treat, mashed potatoes — the quintessential comfort food — are combined with lobster, everyone's favorite celebration seafood. Leftover sprigs of fresh tarragon make a nice garnish for the entrée plates.

"My husband, Greg, and I cook together a lot," writes Sara Hainsworth of Frederick, Maryland, "which is fun and makes weeknight dinners and cooking for friends easier to manage now that we're starting our own family. I worked before our son, William, was born, but as my husband says, William is my boss now. So I count on quick, dependably good dishes like this more than ever." Sara says that this soup tastes even better the next day (which makes it an ideal party dish). But we thought it was delicious the same day, too.

Cilantro and lime lend a bit of Mexican flair to this sandwich.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Miniature Crab Cakes with Tomato Ginger Jam . Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Serve this curry with condiments such as dried currants, sliced green onions, shredded coconut and toasted slivered almonds.

In addition to the herb mayonnaise and blue cheese coleslaw, sliced tomatoes would be perfect alongside.

The fudge can be cut into three wide bars. Wrap each in cellophane and tie with ribbon, adding a butter knife to the bow.

Based on two root vegetables, this soup tastes sophisticated nonetheless.

"The Watermark restaurant here in Cleveland is my favorite place to take out-of-town guests—and I find other excuses to go, too," writes Bob Charleton of Cleveland, Ohio. " Last time I went there, I had lunch in the Garden Room, a glassed-in space overlooking the Cuyahoga River. The highlight of the meal was an unusual pumpkin soup topped with cheddar cheese." Surprisingly easy to make, this soup is flavored with cumin and chili powder.

Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

This is a light and elegant update of the San Francisco original that was invented at the Hotel St. Francis by chef Victor Hirtzler. Though it is often served topped with anchovies, we love the way it tastes without them. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

For a light meal, all you need is some crusty French bread and a garden salad to go with this comforting soup.

These clams in garlicky broth were named after Bulhão Pato, a 19th-century Portuguese poet. Although his verses have been largely forgotten, the dish remains popular throughout Lisbon. Serve it as the first course of an elegant meal or as the main course of a light lunch.

Think you don't like brussels sprouts? Think again: These are pretty irresistible.

Offer thinly sliced serrano ham or prosciutto and bowls of stuffed olives and toasted almonds along with the beans.