Spicy rice balls made with ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, celery, bell pepper, horseradish, and Worcestershire, baked in a spicy tomato soup sauce. A Southern-style porcupine meatball with serious kick.
Mandarin orange salad tosses crisp iceberg and romaine with sweet mandarin oranges, crunchy sugar-glazed almonds, and a tangy-sweet cider vinaigrette. A potluck classic with the best sweet-and-crunchy contrast.
Tropical pineapple-papaya salsa with blanched tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and scallions. A fresh, fruity topping for grilled fish, chicken, or chips.
Shrimp with mango and basil sears turmeric-spiced shrimp and tosses them with ripe mango cubes, scallion greens, and fresh basil. Tropical-bright weeknight dinner.
Salmon steaks brushed with vermouth butter, orange zest, and lemon juice, topped with sliced potatoes and grilled in foil. Works on the barbecue or in the oven.
Orange beef with sun-dried tomatoes: a Chinese-Italian fusion stir-fry with brandy-marinated flank steak, candied orange zest, sun-dried tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and jalapeno. Restaurant-style technique at home.
Crisp broccoli and cauliflower florets tossed with bacon, sunflower seeds, and raisins in tangy-sweet mayo dressing. Make-ahead potluck favorite.
Ground beef and cheese pie with cheddar, Swiss, green onions, and a mayonnaise-egg custard baked in a flaky pie shell. A savory one-dish dinner.
Microwave stuffed zucchini filled with sauteed pulp, green onions, bread cubes, Parmesan, and fresh tomato. A quick vegetable side dish in under 20 minutes.
Linguine with clams in a peppery watercress and white wine sauce with garlic and green onions. A light, briny pasta dinner for two that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Chinese stir-fried oysters with garlic, ginger, green onions, and a light oyster sauce glaze. Blanched first, then wok-fried in under 2 minutes for tender, briny bites.
Brown rice summer salad with tarragon vinaigrette, fresh vegetables, peas, and pimentos. Low-fat, no-mayo, and served cold. A make-ahead side dish for hot weather meals.
Noodle seafood soup, a quick 20-minute one-pot meal using ramen noodle packets, shredded cabbage, carrots, imitation crab, and toasted sesame oil for an Asian-inspired bowl.
Garden herb muffins are savory low-fat muffins studded with grated carrot, green onion, garlic, and mustard. A bread basket savory bake for soups and salads.
A lighter salmon dip made with thick strained yogurt instead of mayo, canned salmon, scallions, celery, and toasted sesame seeds with a dash of hot sauce. High-protein, tangy, and great with crackers or crudites.
Fresh tuna burgers with basil, mint, lemon zest, and red chili, grilled and stacked on whole-wheat ciabatta with wasabi mayonnaise. A lighter burger with a Thai-Japanese lean.