Chile

If you are also making the duck pozole , prepare this dessert while the stew simmers.

Macarrones con Crema y Queso Poblano and serrano chiles give a mild kick to this cheesy Mexican pasta.

Pozole can refer to hominy, as well as to the name of the stew made with it.

If you substitute regular bread crumbs for the panko, the coating will be heavier and the texture denser. In this recipe, the peas are soaked but not precooked before grinding, much like in a falafel.

Jan Schroeder of Corvallis, Oregon, writes: "A great thing about my job is that I get to do a lot of cooking. I work for the berry industry and one of my duties is developing recipes. I often get ideas from local chefs, but it's also rewarding to see what I can come up with on my own."

Erin Rutherford of Charlotte, North Carolina, writes: "This sauce was a hit with my supper club — I served it with filet mignon encrusted in black pepper, cumin, and sea salt, and it was killer. It would also pair well with swordfish."

Kia Ly Dickinson of Miami, Florida, writes: "This fragrant soup is so good you will be freaking out. It can be served hot or cold, with rice. The recipe is an ode to my homeland, Vietnam, and I'd like to share it with my new friends in America." This recipe calls for fresh lemon verbena, but you can substitute 1 stalk of fresh lemongrass if lemon verbena is unavailable. Both ingredients are sold at specialty produce markets, but lemongrass is also sold at Asian markets and some supermarkets, so it may be easier to find. If using lemongrass, discard 1 or 2 outer leaves, then thinly slice lower 6 inches of stalk. Finely chop, then sauté along with chiles and garlic.

Spoon this sprightly condiment over grilled fish, alongside roasted ham, or, for an appetizer, atop slices of smoked salmon on buttered pumpernickel.

No rolling required: Here the tortillas are layered with the filling (New Mexico-style) so that each person gets a neat stack. Rewarm the turkey in broth or water in the microwave, or in a skillet on the stove.

Rajas are chile strips cooked with onion (raja means "slice" in Spanish).

At Mo Mo, chef Greg Malouf serves his b'stilla in individual portions, but we've opted to make a large pie designed to be served in wedges.

Look for meaty ribs that aren't over-trimmed; the bones on top shouldn't show through. This recipe doubles or triples easily.

Relish each step of preparing coffee- and chile-braised short ribs: Searing a brown crust on the ribs before they bake adds a deep caramelized flavor; sautéing the aromatics (onions, peppers, garlic) in the drippings makes the sauce base really fragrant.

Camarones al Cilantro Laura Bookman of Weston, Massachusetts, writes: "Can you get me the recipe for camarones al cilantro from Cafe Sol Azteca, in Newton Center, Massachusetts?"

This chutney requires a lot of herbs. If the bunches at your supermarket are small, buy two or three.