Lettuce

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Wrapped foods, such as the Vietnamese spring roll, the Filipino lumpia and the Chinese egg roll, have a long history in Asian cooking and are hot items right now all across America. The lime juice, ginger, cilantro, cucumber and mint in this recipe are found in the cuisines of all Southeast Asian countries. Round out this dinner with hot or iced jasmine tea and cold Thai beer.

This tangy homemade dressing keeps a few days when chilled, and is also great for turkey sandwiches, coleslaw and deviled eggs.

This version of the French classic has only raw vegetables.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

We particularly liked this sandwich on slipper-shaped ciabatta bread, although any type of soft Italian bread is suitable.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"I am 76 and consider myself a very good cook," writes Dorothy Harley of Norco, California. "I've always looked forward to receiving your magazine. Some recipes I try, love, and make over and over. One recipe I remember most is a shrimp and avocado salad. For our 25th anniversary, I cleaned and cooked 25 pounds of shrimp myself for the dish — it was a hit. And for my daughter's wedding, 21 years ago, I made it again. I'm sure that if you reprinted the recipe, you'd receive praise." Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 25 hr (includes marinating)

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

"On a visit to Miami Beach, a friend suggested we try the Gaucho Room at Loews Miami Beach Hotel," writes Anthony M. Stephens of Concord, California. "I have had many versions of Caesar salad, but none compare to the one I ate there; the house-made herbed croutons and dressing were so fresh. Would chef Frank Randazzo share his recipe?"

"When our travel plans changed and my husband and I found ourselves in Tampa overnight, we got a hotel room and then went searching for a restaurant," writes Lee Menconi-Steiger of San Pablo, California. "Our concierge recommended SideBern's for dinner — and it was outstanding. We tried dozens of delicious items from their dim sum menu, but the dish I remember best is the Pacific Rim Caesar salad." Top this salad with seared tuna or scallops to make it into a main course for four.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Basil mayonnaise and avocado slices add an extra dimension to the good old bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Bloody Marys would go nicely with the food in this menu.

This simple apple salad got its name from the luxurious Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Invented in 1896 not by a chef but by the maître d'hôtel Oscar Tschirky, the Waldorf salad was an instant success. As often happens, many variations evolved—some with raisins, some with chopped nuts. This one has green apples and red seedless grapes.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 45 min (includes cooling onion)