Cucumber

A Vietnamese-style salad that makes a refreshing accompaniment to any kind of barbecued meat.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Offer steamed new potatoes alongside. What to drink: Chardonnay or Sancerre.

Donna Knowlton of Atlanta, Georgia, writes: "As the oldest of five children growing up in rural West Virginia, I was always helping in the kitchen. My husband is a doctor and works long hours, but we still like sharing a meal at the end of the day. I don't want to be in the kitchen late at night making something complicated, so I rely on dishes that can be ready in minutes." Donna brought back this version of the classic recipe from a trip to Athens.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires addtional sitting time. Serve this salad as a fiery first course for an Asian-style entrée such as a stir-fry, or use it as a side dish for grilled chicken or fish.

Serve the salmon with steamed rice tossed with shelled edamame (fresh green soybeans). Market tip: Choose wild Alaskan salmon, which is abundant and well regulated. Farmed salmon is controversial; salmon farms pollute wild salmon habitats and spread disease to wild salmon stocks.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional sitting time.

If you make the components of this hors d'oeuvre ahead, stir together the filling ingredients just before serving the first batch. Keep the remaining filling chilled, covered, and spoon it into the remaining cucumber cups as platters need replenishing.

Soba noodles can be found in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets.

Called fattoush in Lebanon, this colorful dish is offered as a first course at Al-Amir restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

This classic Indian salad, or raita, is perfect with any curry dish.

This cool salsa is the ideal accompaniment for grilled shrimp.

Feta cheese, cucumber, tomato and fresh dell enliven this simple salad.