Cardamom

The flavor combinations in this creamy yet light soup are complex, but making it is very easy. Like the best appetizers, the soup wakes up the palate and is not too filling.

Missy Johnson of Fairway, Kansas, writes: "My husband and i had a wonderful spiced banana ice cream at bluestem, in Kansas City, Missouri. Do you think the pastry chef would share the recipe?"

The red portions of rhubarb stalks make the best-looking pie, so buy extra and trim as needed.

Cardamom loses flavor and aroma quickly, so be sure to store it in an airtight container in a cool dry place — never near your stove. Because the cornstarch in confectioners sugar isn't kosher for Passover, we powdered granulated sugar in an electric coffee/spice grinder and mixed it with potato starch for a similar effect.

Yvonne M. Parnes of Batavia, Ohio, got the recipe for these rich, buttery cookies in an e-mail from the McCormick spice company. We like them plain, but drizzled with espresso icing and bittersweet chocolate, they are truly out of this world.

Rachel English of Atlanta, Georgia, writes: "My husband and I both love to cook (and eat), so we were excited when we heard that local chef Kevin Rathbun was opening a new restaurant, called Rathbun's, not too far from our house. We stopped by for dinner a few weeks ago and absolutely loved the fried shrimp appetizer. I just have to have the recipe." The restaurant also prepares this dish with chicken and tofu. The flavorful Thai-inspired batter gets its kick from makrut lime leaves, curry paste, and ginger ale.

This rendition of India's popular yogurt shake makes a cooling counterpoint to any spicy dish.

Make hot chocolate for the kids. Top it with whipped cream and add a cinnamon stick.

This chai recipe—inspired by versions in India—combines black tea, spices, and milk. The savory notes from black pepper and cardamom in this version give it a wonderful aromatic complexity.

This is more of an infusion than a true tea, since it isn't made with tea leaves. You will have leftover spice tea to store.

A lovely change of pace from café au lait, cappuccino, or hot chocolate, and lower in fat and calories, too.

Yogurt drinks, known as lassi in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, are served in New York City's numerous Indian restaurants. Salty and sweet versions accompany spicy meals to cool the heat.

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20s — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Over the years, my cooking style has become more casual; I make dishes that are not too demanding, but still special for company."

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.