Sugar Snap Pea

The unofficial national dish of Spain, paella makes a fantastic main course for entertaining. Once you've prepped the components a couple of hours ahead, the finished product comes together in about 30 minutes. Just add a green salad dressed with Sherry vinaigrette. What to drink: Chilled Spanish rosé (called rosado); Rick Rodgers likes Las Rocas de San Alejandro Rosado.

So flavorful and so easy to make.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This salad is so much lighter and fresher-tasting than mayonnaise-based versions. It gets crispy sweetness from sugar snaps and peppers and nuttiness from tahini. Keep in mind that tahini can turn rancid rather quickly (even in unopened cans, in our experience). We recommend buying it from a place with a high turnover, such as a Middle Eastern market or a natural foods store. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Two kinds of just-cooked peas and an Asian dressing make one delicious salad.

These hors d'oeuvres should be served warm, so fry a couple of batches at a time as platters need replenishing.

Chicken broth is combined with oil to stir-fry the vegetables.

This stew is great served with noodles.

Serve steamed rice mixed with fresh cilantro alongside this spicy Chinese-inspired dish.

We've called for live lobsters in this recipe, but, to save time, you could use 1 pound (about 3 cups) cooked lobster meat from your fish market.

Serve this newfangled main-course salad with a crisp flatbread, such as lavash, and white wine or rosé spritzers.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Sugar snap peas, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions, parsley and mint combine with orzo pasta for a lovely warm-weather salad.

Ginger and garlic give these pea pods a hint of Asian flavor, but we think they're a good all-purpose side dish.

This simple-to-make dish is a wonderful addition to any Spring time supper.

We think bowls made of ice are the perfect vessel for this soup, but if space is tight in your freezer, regular soup bowls will work just fine. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 8 1/2 hr (includes chilling)