Skewer

Improv: Add or substitute corn on the cob, eggplant slices, or portobellos.

The skewers grill above the flames, suspended between two bricks to keep them from touching the grates of the barbecue. No bricks handy? Substitute disposable foil mini loaf pans (found on the baking aisle at the supermarket).

Leigh Vickery of Tyler, Texas, writes: "Even though my weeknights are mostly filled with baseball and soccer practice and helping my kids with their homework, family time at the dinner table is still important to me. To avoid the trap of fast-food restaurants on hectic nights, I keep plenty of recipes on hand that don't take too much time to pull together."

Ground Urfa and Maras peppers are flavorful without being fiery. If you find only one, use 1 tablespoon of it.

Yakitori In Tokyo, these savory skewers are made with Japanese leeks, called negi, which are thinner and more tender than Western leeks. We've substituted scallions, since they have a similar sweetness and are more readily available here.

These skewers are traditionally made with Brazilian queijo de coalho, a dense, salty white cheese very similar in taste and texture to the Haloumi we use here. Soaking the cheese on the skewers removes some of the salt and prevents the skewers from burning.

Top-quality veal really makes a difference in this dish; meat should be cut from the leg for scalloppine.

Malena Marie Beanik of Hollywood, California, writes: "Although I grew up in Philadelphia, I haven't lived there for years. But whenever I'm back in town I make it a point to spend some time in Manayunk, one of my favorite neighborhoods. During my last visit I ate at LeBus and had a fantastic chicken skewer appetizer."

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tikka curry paste — used to season the chicken — can be found in Asian markets, but any mild Indian curry paste can be substituted.

This recipe calls for a double dose of rosemary — it's used in the marinade for the lamb and in the aioli that's served with it.

Serve grated cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa with the fajitas. Begin with Margaritas, and finish with coffee ice cream drizzled with Kahlúa.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve these atop rice, and offer cherry tomatoes tossed with ranch dressing on the side. Purchased peach tarts wrap it up.