Dill

This very ancient dish of pickled salmon is of Swedish origin, and considered by a great many Scandinavians to be superior to smoked salmon. It must be made with fresh fish that has never been frozen, and with a plentiful supply of fresh dill weed.

This looks like sushi, but it's really a new way to present the familiar Passover fish course.

For this warm-weather dish, a salsa cruda à la Grec — or uncooked Greek-style sauce — is combined with hot pasta and served at once. Be sure to use the ripest, juiciest tomatoes you can find, preferably from a farmers' market or your own backyard.

One way to cut down on holiday oven gridlock is to choose a side dish that can be made on top of the stove, like this one.

"While driving along the California coast, we stopped at River's End, in Jenner," say Susan and Malcolm Duncan of Waco, Texas. "The fennel slaw was addictive, and we're not even fennel people. Do you think you could get the recipe?"

This recipe makes great use of the tough outer leaves of romaine, which are often discarded.

Have creamed spinach and sautéed carrots with these updated Swedish meat loaves. Then serve applesauce and spice cookies.

These pork chops go well with rice with julienned carrots .

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min