Parade

Begin with a ripe mango or ripen in a paper bag. First peel the skin off the mango. Slice it lengthwise on either side of the pit. This may be 4 slices. The pit may be oval. Use a serrated knife and proceed with the recipe.

This is an interesting alternative to potatoes. For the best flavor, try to find low-sodium chicken broth or use half water and half broth.

Marjorie Farr, Silver Spring, Md.
Use fresh spinach in this dish — frozen will not do. A sprinkle of parsley before serving adds a fresh touch.

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

Nan Buchanan, Kemah, Tex.
"This cookie is versatile, so I adapt the shapes and decorations to the season — jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween and eggs at Easter."

Toss salad with the Sunshine Vinaigrette just before serving, so that the greens won't discolor.

Cherry-pitters can be purchased in kitchen-supply and housewares shops. Wear an apron when pitting, but still watch out for the juice.

I like using Israeli couscous for this dish, although pearl barley may be substituted. This couscous is quite starchy and should be rinsed after cooking.

Start with a very high oven temperature to seal in the meat juices. (This is equivalent to browning meat before roasting.) When the meat comes out of the oven, let it rest before carving, or the juices will run out.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Peach Blackberry Pie . Try to roll out pie dough on a cold surface. If you have a little extra dough, roll it out and make a decorative cutout in the shape of a peach. Place it on the top of the pie.

Baking the potato adds an interesting depth of flavor to the salad and lends a mouth-pleasing texture.

For the fudgiest brownies, be sure not to overbake these, from Steffi Berne's Cookie Jar Cookbook.

Briefly cooking the spices brings out their oils and enhances the flavor. Before pureeing the soup, be sure the carrots are tender. Once the orange juice has been added, reheat the soup over very low heat.

I like chicken to remain moist, but it must be cooked through; so, if necessary, cook longer than recommended here. If cutting the meat in thirds is too large to handle, cut into four pieces.

Fresh pumpkin or squash puree is always delicious but not nearly as handy as canned pumpkin.

When you're cooking with veggies, don't overlook dessert! This cake has great texture, thanks to both pureed and grated carrots. It's delicious with or without frosting and great for parties.

Most supermarkets have at least one type of spiced sausage. If you don't have the time to make cornbread, it usually is sold at BBQ restaurants and diners. This recipe is an accompaniment for Maple Ginger Roasted Turkey.

The vegetables can be prepared ahead and finished up to the middle of step 3. Heat for 5 minutes before serving.