Blender

Crepas Rellenas de Hongos con Salsa de Chile Poblano Wild mushrooms stand in for cuitlacoche (corn fungus), which is a delicacy in Mexico.

Soaking the leek in vinegar and water helps to pull out the dirt and sand. Be sure to rinse well.

The tuna sauce for this salad is based on the Northern Italian tonnato— a summer sauce served over chilled veal roast. You could use light tuna, but white tuna makes the sauce a more attractive color.

Holly Gustafson of Shaker Heights, Ohio, writes: "Noggins Restaurant, Raw Bar & Pub is a great restaurant in my neighborhood that serves the most wonderful artichoke-blue cheese bisque. I've searched many cooking Web sites for something similar, but I can't find anything close to it. Can you help me get the real recipe?" The blue cheese adds a pungent note to this silky, warming soup.

A dash of curry powder transforms this cool fruit soup into a sweetly savory first course.

This recipe makes more honeydew ice than you'll need for the soup, but it's also terrific spooned into our plum limeade. And this dish, like the limeade, is one that you'll want to serve right away so that the soup won't begin to darken.

This simple seasonal soup depends on a single farm-fresh ingredient: corn. Its essence is captured in this purist's purée.

This elegant first course is ideal for entertaining, because everything can be prepared a day ahead (just chop up all the toppings and refrigerate them until ready to use).

The secret to this Chinese favorite is not to let the noodles sit in the sauce very long — toss them together a few seconds before serving.

"For me, cooking is a very relaxing and creative process — I just wish I had more time for it," writes Katherine Burk of Seattle, Washington. "I make a point of fixing dinner during the week, but with my hectic schedule (I work in information technology), there are some nights I'm too wiped out to attempt anything more complicated than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Usually, though, I can put something together — my spicy black bean soup, for example — in under thirty minutes." A southwestern favorite, simplified: Most of the ingredients are pantry staples.

For this soup, cook your favorite winter squash.

The corn coulis also pairs nicely with pork tenderloin, shrimp, or grilled chicken. Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 45 min

Port wine and balsamic vinegar deepen the fresh fruit flavors in the cherry sauce. Be sure to get started at least one day ahead; the panna cotta custards must chill for 24 hours before serving.

Chalupas Poblanas de Pollo Look for tightly stacked tortillas in packs of 50 (they can be frozen). They are pressed tightly together to retain moisture and freshness and are available in Latino markets and some supermarkets. Delicious tortillas can also be mail-ordered from Maria & Ricardo's Tortilla Factory (800-881-7040). Other Mexican ingredients are available at Mexican markets and many supermarkets. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 40 min

This recipe calls for sweet Gewürztraminer, but any other sweet white wine (excluding dessert wines) should do. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional sitting time.

This recipe combines the oriental technique of velveting with the Indian flavors of a fresh herb chutney.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.