Weeknight Meals

Helena Seefranz of Rockaway, New Jersey, writes: "My mother, Ethel Lang Kelemen, was born in Hungary. She taught my older sister and me how to prepare many Hungarian dishes, but my favorite is chicken paprikas. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does."

Pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, is traditionally made with long-cooked beef stock. Our quick version calls for deli sliced beef and canned beef broth instead.<

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Rice pilaf and roasted vegetables are good choices for side dishes. Using purchased pesto makes this dish a snap to prepare.

Just four ingredients add up to a rich and delicious side dish. Once the potatoes are sliced, the gratin comes together quickly and then bakes unattended for about an hour and 15 minutes.

Couscous with fresh herbs, and steamed green beans sprinkled with toasted pine nuts would be lovely accompaniments. Dessert? Try warm apple turnovers from the bakery; top with ice cream.

Arugula replaces lettuce in this clever pasta dish. Serve with: Whole-wheat breadsticks and carrot sticks with blue cheese dip. Dessert: Cherry-vanilla ice cream cones.

Janet Fletcher, food writer, says, "Sure, I loved sweet potatoes with marshmallows when I was a child, but some tastes you leave behind. Now I prefer a more grown-up preparation, with an intriguing hint of Sherry."

Kathy Johnson of New Orleans, Louisiana, writes: "Having lived in one of America's major food cities most of my life, I am no stranger to good eating. As much as my husband, Paul, and I love dining out, we particularly like making meals together at home. Some of our greatest hits have been the easiest and quickest dishes. It seems that the more I cook, the more I realize that big flavor comes not from the time spent in the kitchen, but from the quality of the ingredients." Look for oriental sesame oil in the Asian foods section of the supermarket. Pasta or crusty bread are good accompaniments.

Serve with the Double-baked Potatoes and steamed broccoli. What to drink: Cabernet Sauvignon. Have angel food cake with sliced strawberries for dessert.

BURGUNDY Known in France as Côtes de Porc Vigneronnes (Grape Growers' Pork Chops), this provincial dish is typical of the simple yet substantial fare served after a hard day of harvesting grapes. Serve with wilted spinach in cream. What to drink: Red Burgundy or a Burgundian Pinot Noir.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Meatless pasta loaded with bold flavors.

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 30 min

This variation on the southern staple can be prepared easily with ingredients one usually has on hand. It's hearty, flavorful, and foolproof — a good choice when you come home from work and need supper in a hurry.

"My husband, Don, and I both like to cook," writes Lisa Pendelton of Pasadena, California. "We run our own architectural firm. The business is rewarding but stressful, so spending time in the kitchen is a wonderful distraction. We divide the work and always help each other out. Actually, that's also the way we work at the office." Lisa's salmon is also great with her lemon cream: Mix 2/3 cup sour cream with 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice.