Shellfish

Serve this quiche (John Travolta's favorite) for lunch or dinner with a green salad.

Inspired by Mostly Martha The Martha in this 2001 German film is a perfectionistic chef in Hamburg whose sister's death leaves her in charge of her young niece. At work, she is further shaken by the arrival of an irrepressibly charming Italian male chef.

This tomato-based chowder tastes a bit like Creole jambalaya. Because the broth can be prepared one day ahead, the recipe is especially convenient for dinner parties.

Nancy Dalrymple of New Orleans, Louisiana, writes: "Last year, my husband and I celebrated our anniversary with a long weekend at Annadele's Plantation, a charming bed-and-breakfast in nearby Covington. Although the rooms were lovely, what made Annadele's so special was the great food. During our stay we learned that the restaurant is open to the public, so we've been back several times for our favorite dish, the pompano fillet with crabmeat and beurre blanc." Pompano — a delicately flavored white fish — is a popular entrée in and around New Orleans. In Annadele's signature version, the fish is topped with sweet crabmeat and a creamy white wine-lemon sauce.

Serve with: Buttermilk biscuits with herb butter, and chilled steamed asparagus spears in a citrus vinaigrette.

This main-course soup showcases some of summer's best flavors. Serve with: Flaky biscuits, and a baby spinach salad with roasted red peppers.

Mirin, miso paste, and hot chili oil are all available at Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets. Serve with: Steamed, salted edamame, and cold soba noodles with a peanut dressing.

The Meyer lemon's moderate acidity ties in nicely with the sweetness of the crab, though standard lemons can also be used.

Rachel English of Atlanta, Georgia, writes: "My husband and I both love to cook (and eat), so we were excited when we heard that local chef Kevin Rathbun was opening a new restaurant, called Rathbun's, not too far from our house. We stopped by for dinner a few weeks ago and absolutely loved the fried shrimp appetizer. I just have to have the recipe." The restaurant also prepares this dish with chicken and tofu. The flavorful Thai-inspired batter gets its kick from makrut lime leaves, curry paste, and ginger ale.

This recipe sponsored by Black Swan Vineyards

This recipe sponsored by Black Swan Vineyards

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Great over rice or toasted French bread.

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20s — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Luckily, my husband, Loren, likes to cook as much as I do, so we really work as a team when we give dinner parties. We're both real estate agents, and we like to entertain clients — we've made some great friends by selling houses to them." Silky and light, this blender soup would make a delicate summer starter. Bonus: It comes together very quickly.