Weeknight Meals

Ginger and crushed red pepper help round out the Thai theme of this quick dish.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Orzo (a rice-shaped pasta also known as riso) can be mixed with diced summer squash, olives and red bell pepper to make a colorful bed for the lamb skewers. Toss some shredded romaine and red cabbage with an oil and vinegar dressing to serve alongside, and end the Mediterranean-style meal with honey cake from the bakery.

Horenso No Goma Miso Ae Some miso varieties are quite salty, but the Saikyo shiro miso called for in this sauce has a sweet, caramel-like taste.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 hr

Easy, elegant fare from chef John Jones at Renato's in Palm Beach.

If the four-inch tortillas used at Café Iguana in Denver, Colorado, are hard to find, the standard five- to six-inch ones also work, or they can be trimmed to the smaller size.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Giving up fried shrimp is probably easier than giving up, say, chocolate cake, but only because so much fried shrimp is so badly prepared. Here is a terrific version, complete with tartar sauce for dipping.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Fresh strawberries and cookies from the bakery round out the meal nicely. Pour a dry white wine or iced tea. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This variation on the Chinese classic incorporates jícama, which retains the crisp texture of water chestnuts even when cooked.

If you make this recipe with fresh peas, keep in mind that it will take about 30 minutes to shell them.