Tomato

If you would rather use swordfish or sea bass, by all means do. Whatever the choice, grill some zucchini that have been quartered lengthwise, and toss egg noodles with butter and fresh black pepper. Then finish the meal with sliced strawberries topped with sour cream and brown sugar. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Our executive food editor used to spend summer vacations in Horton Bay, Michigan, where a version of the following recipe was an unusual but popular sweet-and-savory accompaniment to lakeside barbecues.

Pair this with a green salad for a light lunch.

For a simple dinner, present this flavorful soup with some warm crusty bread and a mixed green salad.

I love many versions of baked stuffed tomatoes, but the simple recipe of Torquato Innocenti, who sells tomatoes in Florence's Piazza Santo Spirito market, is my favorite. Nothing more than garlic, basil or parsley, and "good oil" fills the tomatoes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Feta cheese, cucumber, tomato and fresh dell enliven this simple salad.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

From Il Pastaio, Beverly Hills, California.

In this recipe we call for a 10 1/2- by 7- by 1-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable fluted rim; you could instead use a 10- by 1-inch round tart pan with a removable rim. The cornmeal makes a tender, delicate crust.

Hot pasta is tossed into a fresh salsalike sauce for a quick and delicious meal.