Weeknight Meals

An old-fashioned cast-iron skillet with shallow round indentations is ideal for making uniform corn cakes. Since these pans can be rather hard to find, you can use a regular cast-iron skillet and achieve equally lovely results. Pepper jelly adds a bit of sweetness and subtle heat. Look for it at farmer’s markets and in gourmet shops.

Allow this robust dip to mellow overnight in the refrigerator. Before serving, bring it to room temperature, or reheat it gently in a saucepan.

Cut the avocados just before serving to keep them from discoloring.

Kofta can be prepared up to 30 minutes before serving; place the patties on a baking sheet, cover with aluminum foil, and keep warm in a 250°F oven.

These quesadillas, filled with mango chutney and cheese, can be assembled ahead of time and wrapped in plastic until ready to grill.

A delicately sweet reduction of red wine, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and herbs crowns tender beef slices.

Add a touch of Provence by applying a rub of thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and sage to sirloin steak.

If you’re wondering what to do with leftover holiday turkey, use it in this one-pot dish for the perfect post-holiday meal.

This steak fits right into your schedule—it can marinate for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 8 hours—and it is equally good whether cooked on the stovetop, grilled, or broiled. Rice and Vegetable Pilaf (page 252) goes well with it.

Sweet and mildly spicy roasted onions take steak to a new flavor level. Make a double batch of the onions (you can cover and refrigerate the extras for up to four days) and serve half with pork chops, such as Pork Chops with Herb Rub (page 196) or on open-face roast beef sandwiches. The steak needs to marinate for 8 hours, so be sure to plan accordingly.

When you’ve had enough sandwiches made of leftover turkey, try this colorful stir-fry.

Pineapple juice adds a taste of Hawaii to the slightly sweet yet spicy marinade in this dish, and chili garlic sauce adds a bit of Asian flair. Be sure to allow time to marinate the steak for 8 to 24 hours. The recipe makes enough for you to serve grilled steak tonight and have some left for Pacific Rim Steak Salad with Sweet-and-Sour Dressing (page 94) later in the week.

Yogurt in meat loaf? Plain yogurt not only provides potassium but also is a great way to keep meat loaf moist.

With this recipe, you season and bake a turkey tenderloin, then make a sauce—all in one dish. It’s a great entrée to serve when you’re in a hurry and even greater when you’re the one cleaning up.

Full of healthy ingredients, this wonderfully comforting almond-topped casserole will wow even spinach-phobes.

Portobello mushrooms have a meaty texture that’s perfect for this classic meat-lovers’ dish.

When you want to serve a crowd but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, this great recipe is the answer.