Caribbean

Active time: 3 hr Start to finish: 4 hr

Offer your favorite corn bread along with the kebabs and salads.

(Braised Beef, Peppers, and Onions) Ropa vieja, or "old clothes," describes the shreds of meat, peppers, and onions resembling a mess of colorful rags. Robust stews such as this Cuban specialty are at the heart of West Indian cuisine.

Sofrito is a sautéed vegetable mixture used as a seasoning in much of Latin America and the Caribbean. It typically contains garlic, onion, bell pepper, coriander, and sometimes tomatoes or ham, although the recipe varies among countries. In our version, we've omitted the oil normally used to cook the ingredients and instead simply puréed the vegetables. This recipe was created to accompany Grilled Citrus Salmon. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve this dish with steamed white rice to catch all the juices.

The best smoothies are made with very ripe fruit. Mango, pineapple and banana team up with light coconut milk in this one.

(Salt Cod Fritters)

Start with vegetable sticks and dip from the supermarket. Warm tortillas and a plate of sliced red onion, orange and avocado are nice sides. To end, sprinkle rum and brown sugar over fresh pineapple chunks. Look for the coconut milk in the Asian foods section of the grocery store.

"Caribbean food has become a real favorite of mine," writes Cindy M. Wright of Tarzana, California. "I just love the flavors of this spicy cuisine. One of the best places in my area is Cha Cha Cha in Encino. I've enjoyed everything I've had there, but I especially like the shrimp and rice dish called camarones negros."

Home cooking doesn't get any easier than this. So if you're serious about getting maximum flavor for a minimum amount of effort, this Cuban way of preparing chicken is for you. The onions and Mojito Marinade melt together into a tasty sauce that mingles well with some of our Perfect Rice.

Rum and spices-classic Caribbean ingredients-also happen to be the classic ingredients in the traditional English steamed pudding. This lovely version of the Christmas dessert is from the Grand View Beach Hotel, Villa Point, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Begin preparing it at least one day before serving.

A slow-simmering, comforting braise delivering healing to both body and soul.

Somewhere between a soup and stew, this spicy chicken bouyon is a family favorite.

With pounds of dried fruit and glugs of dark rum, this is a recipe for serious fruitcake fans.

This chicken stew seasoned with aromatic spices, tomato, and sofrito is ideal comfort for cold evenings.

This dairy-free version of the Puerto Rican holiday classic is punched up with Jamaican aromatics.

This classic take on the coconutty Puerto Rican cocktail features warming spices and a generous glug of rum.