Chipotle

Talk about convenient! Baking a whole sweet potato takes about an hour, but sautéing the grated potato takes only fifteen minutes from start to finish — and you end up concentrating the flavor to boot. This recipe dresses up your potato with Southwestern ingredients, but there's no reason not to go Asian (add ginger and soy) or Italian (add sage, brown butter, and pine nuts) as the mood strikes you. For that matter, you could swap out the sweet potato and use butternut squash instead.

When you crave something hot and filling, a bowl of this chili will do the trick.

Its firm flesh and assertive taste make arctic char a great choice for the grill. The ground chipotle in the quick marinade gives the fish a hint of smoky heat.

It's impossible to overstate just how well the ingredients come together in this beautiful salad. The textural contrast of juicy ripe oranges and crisp endives is enhanced by a surprisingly complex vinaigrette containing sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors.

In this spin on New Orleans's classic appetizer of barbecue shrimp, chipotle chiles stand in for cayenne and black pepper, truly transforming the dish with a beguiling play of spice, a hint of smoke, and a gorgeous brick-red color. Here, we serve the shrimp as a main course — but in the spirit of the original, we've kept this a meal to eat with your hands. Peeling the shrimp, slurping their shells, and scooping up the hot, buttery sauce with crusty bread makes for nothing less than a feast. Best of all, it's ready in a flash.

Duck breast is a sadly underrated meat. Served rare to medium-rare and sliced on the diagonal, it has the mineral tang of beef. This southwestern version, with its slightly spicy sauce, elicits every ounce of flavor from the bird. And it's so easy!

Serve the salmon with steamed rice and edamame.

The glaze gives the chicken a sweet, spicy kick. What to drink: Zaca Mesa 2003 Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley ($15).

If you're making these fries to go with the broiled steak with horseradish cream, as shown below, skip the chipotle mayonnaise and squeeze lemon or lime juice over the fries.

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."

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.

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

Guests take part in the fun by assembling their own sandwiches with colorful roasted peppers, mixed greens, tomatoes, chipotle mayonnaise and jalapeño Monterey Jack cheese. Serve chilled sodas and iced tea.

Market Tip: Pick well-trimmed ribs with a thick solid portion of meat on the bone.

Lisa Amundsen of Vancouver, British Columbia, writes: "On a recent trip to New York City, my husband and I stayed near Amy's Bread bakery. We sampled their excellent selection of breads, sandwiches, and sweets. We especially loved the grilled cheese sandwich. It was a little tangy, a little spicy, and altogether wonderful."