Chicken

Doris Murphy of Pompano Beach, Florida, writes: "When I was raising my children, the dishes I made were definitely home style to suit everyone's tastes; but even without the demands of feeding a family, I still prefer simpler recipes. Nevertheless, I notice that most of my kids are pretty adventurous cooks. Maybe they did get some of that creativity from me; when I recall the potato-meat-and-vegetable meals my mother served, I realize that I did branch out a bit."

Serve a salad and some wine alongside, and you're ready for company.

Here's a hearty and satisfying pasta that makes an easy entrée for a dinner party.

Serve rice with this dish from Le Colonial, a Vietnamese restaurant in West Hollywood.

Marinating the chicken in the yogurt mixture overnight tenderizes the meat and adds a delicious tang.

In Indian cooking, tikka refers to chunks of meat cooked on skewers.

Rupa De of West Lafayette, Indiana, writes: "Since I am originally from India, many of my non-Indian friends have asked me for a chicken curry recipe, and this is the one I give them. I hope your readers will enjoy it, too."

This lively salad is from Jorge Navarro, the chef-owner of Café Navarro, a cozy, Caribbean-style spot in Eugene, Oregon.

Scalloped potatoes, steamed broccoli, and sliced tomatoes with blue cheese dressing go well with these drumsticks. We like lemon meringue pie for dessert.

My father, who in his later years has become a superb cook, always longed to make at home the chicken wings he ordered in Asian restaurants. This is the recipe I developed to satisfy his cravings. Many Chinese restaurants deep-fry the wings, but the high-heat roasted method used here is far healthier and the taste is delicious.

Serve this tasty, low-fat baked chicken with steamed rice and fresh pineapple slices for a complete meal.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.