Ginger

To sweeten the whipped cream topping, simply add a little honey instead of sugar.

"My wife, Jean, and I run a coffee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii," writes George Fike of Keauhou Mauka, Hawaii. "I really love to cook, so we entertain a lot, and I enjoy planning the dinners as much as I do making them. I tell people the best restaurant in town is our house! Since I do most of the cooking, recipes must either be relatively fast or look after themselves. My recipe for Hawaiian-style pork has both of those qualities. It's based on the traditional Hawaiian kalua pig, in which the meat is steamed in an underground oven. For this version, you don't have to dig a pit in your back yard, and once everything's in the pot — which involves chopping a few ingredients — it cooks slowly but doesn't require a lot of attention." Complete this main course with steamed rice. Look for Chinese five-spice powder in the spice section of the supermarket.

This recipe is a wonderful way to prepare tofu as a main course; all it needs is a side of rice.

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.

Serve steamed rice mixed with fresh cilantro alongside this spicy Chinese-inspired dish.

This recipe adapts traditional Indian tandoori cooking for a barbecue. The chicken needs to marinate overnight, so start this one day ahead.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Serve this dish with brown rice.

This glaze adds a rich shine to the turkey and also enhances the flavor of the gravy. The glaze may be prepared 2 days ahead. This recipe is an accompaniment for Maple Ginger Roasted Turkey.

Adapted from Emerson & Green

Chinese egg noodles are at Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of the supermarket.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Vanilla-Citrus Tea Ring . Any remaining compote would be great for breakfast or dessert with a spoonful of yogurt or crème fraîche.

Steaming, a method often used by Asian cooks, works well with delicately flavored red snapper, since the aromatics (ginger, scallion, chile) are easily absorbed by the fish.

For a complete Asian-inspired menu, prepare steamed rice, and sauté snow peas in sesame oil. Fill fresh papaya halves with coconut ice cream for a refreshing dessert.

Ice cream at its easiest: crystallized ginger is mixed into softened vanilla ice cream.