Steam

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

These custards are inspired by the Japanese egg custard chawan mushi, made with dashi broth (a stock of dried kelp and dried bonito flakes). We've used chicken broth for simplicity, but any broth or stock that you have on hand will work fine. Steaming the custards gives them a delicate texture, which is enhanced by the spare use of solid ingredients (the shrimp, scallion, and mushrooms).

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"Even people who aren't enthusiastic about vegetables enjoy my steamed eggplant with what I call 'Sesame Sauce à la Reddy,'" writes Guvvala Reddy of Madison, Wisconsin. "I adapted this recipe from one of my favorite Indian dishes, and it proves that the right mix of spices can change otherwise bland vegetables into something really special." Also nice as a side dish for chicken or lamb.

Crusty bread, an arugula and endive salad with balsamic dressing, and lemon sorbet with chocolate-dipped biscotti turn this simple Italian dinner into a special one.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min Servings: Serves 12 (as part of aïoli menu).

Matt McMillan, Big Bowl's executive chef, threw together these items for his lunch one day. We ran it as a special the next week. It's simple and delicious.

Begin making the coleslaw two days ahead and the whitefish one day ahead. Pour a Chardonnay or Pinot Noir with dinner.

These beets would be a great way to liven up simple roasted meats such as pork and chicken.

Oyster-roast masters like Louis Osteen, who have been doing this for years, use huge pits or grills that are large enough to cook sausages, oysters, and clams all at the same time. We recommend using whatever type of oyster is locally available to you. Examine them carefully—discard any that smell bad. If any are cracked or open, and don't close when tapped, discard those as well. When roasting oysters, it's important to keep them moist enough to create steam (hence the soaked burlap or water in the roasting pan). If roasted dry, they can explode. To make this menu simpler, you could skip making the clams; there will still be plenty of food for everyone.

"I got the inspiration for this recipe from a dish we made in a cooking class I took recently," says Tracy McGillis of San Francisco, California. "I added a few twists and came up with my own tasty version."