Chicken Breast

For a quick and easy meal, grill some vegetables — like red onions, bell peppers and eggplant — alongside the chicken. Sharpen your chopping skills and learn how to joint a whole chicken with our technique videos.

Lorraine Stevenski of Clearwater, Florida, writes: "As a kid growing up in an Italian family, I loved being in the kitchen. But I didn't become serious about cooking until I got married and had my own kitchen to experiment in. My husband and I lived in Queens, New York, within walking distance of many Greek, Italian, and Spanish food shops. The new foods I discovered there inspired my passion for cooking." Panko is available in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 40 min

Even the ranch dressing gets a Cajun kick in this lively main-course salad.

This is a recipe that I cook at home myself — a versatile method for having a sophisticated meal on tap with very little last-minute prep work. This is a remarkable dish because it requires nothing but a pot of simmering water to cook it successfully; there is no butter, no oil, no sautéing, and no roasting. Yet the results are delicious. Here I've stuffed the chicken with goat cheese and spinach, but you can substitute Chopped Roasted Tomatoes ( this recipe can be found in the book), or any filling you like. Avoid buying boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces if poissible. You'll get the best results by purchasing a whole organic chicken and removing the breast yourself. Serve this with a small salad for an ideal lunch.

Peperoncini, breadsticks, and orzo mixed with sliced oil-cured olives would round out the main course beautifully. End with raspberries and sweetened whipped cream.

Carey Paquette of Arlington, Virginia, writes: "My boyfriend and I cook almost every night as a way to unwind. It's nice to come home after a hectic day and make dinner together rather than pull something prepackaged out of the freezer. One of our favorite things is grilled vegetables. I'm always adding them to meals, since they don't need a lot of preparation. They're the key ingredients in my popular chicken sandwiches."

Pat Christofolo runs the kitchen at this restaurant, located only a few minutes from downtown Phoenix. She's particular about the way she puts this sandwich together: The mayo should touch both the chicken and greens, so each has its own bit of dressing.

Marjoram's full flavor does all the work in this incredibly simple recipe. Serve with crusty bread to soak up the delicious juices.

Begin making this one day ahead. If you plan to take this on a sailing trip or a picnic, grill the chicken at home, then transport it in a cooler and serve it cold, or let it stand at room temperature up to two hours. Crusty bread and white wine are perfect accompaniments.

Serve this entrée with steamed white rice and warm pita rounds.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 45 min

Jerk seasoning — here a spicy blend of garlic, onion, chiles, thyme, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon, though recipes vary — originated in Jamaica and is traditionally used on pork and chicken. Because the jerk marinade can burn easily, the chicken requires slow cooking on the grill, which also helps keep the meat moist.

Using stale pita will keep the bread from getting soggy in the salad.

Sabrina Henderson of Gardena, California, writes: "My love of cooking dates back to my junior-high home economics class. After that I took home ec every year I could. My last teacher in high school was the best. He was a former chef who taught us how to make classics like lasagna and chicken cordon bleu. I still prepare those dishes for company."

Garden-fresh Thyme Pesto is the star of this elegant entrée, but you can also use purchased or homemade basil pesto.