Sauces/20 recipes

Elegant sherried baked fruit with layered pineapple, peaches, apricots, cherries, and spiced apple rings in a buttery brown sugar and sherry sauce. Serves 20 for buffets and dinner parties.

Mexican pizza with refried beans, picante sauce, cheddar, Monterey Jack, black olives, jalapenos, and fresh cilantro on a pre-baked crust. Ready in 20 minutes.

Homemade duck sauce from peach preserves, white vinegar, fresh ginger, and scallions. Four ingredients, 20 minutes, and far better than the takeout packets.

Fettuccine with walnut sauce made from sauteed garlic, onions, sour cream, and Parmesan. A rich, creamy pasta dinner ready in 20 minutes. Microwave-friendly sauce method.

Microwave salmon with herb mayonnaise sauce of parsley, dill, and scallions. A quick 20-minute salmon dinner that keeps the fish moist and flavorful without heating the oven.

Chicken scallopini uses pounded chicken breasts with a crispy Italian breadcrumb crust and a quick lemon-caper butter pan sauce. Italian restaurant classic ready in under 20 minutes.

Western-style beans and rice simmered in tomato sauce with hot pepper sauce, onion, and celery. A quick, budget-friendly one-skillet dinner ready in 20 minutes.

Peanut noodles toss fresh Chinese flour noodles with a quick peanut butter, chili-garlic paste, and fish sauce sauce. Six ingredients, 20 minutes, proper Southeast Asian flavor.

Shrimp Andre sautes mushrooms, onion, and butterflied shrimp in butter with sherry, then folds in a lemony Mornay sauce. A classic French bistro plate over rice pilaf, ready in 20 minutes.

Hoosier goulash made entirely in the microwave with ground beef, elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. A Midwest one-dish dinner in 20 minutes.

Spinach fettuccine in a quick Romano cheese cream sauce with garlic and white wine. A simple Italian pasta dish ready in 20 minutes for two.

Light spaghetti sauce with tomato sauce, garlic, green bell pepper, red wine, basil, and oregano ready in 20 minutes. A quick, low-fat meatless marinara for weeknight pasta.

Mexican rice cakes top puffed rice rounds with refried beans, picante sauce, cheddar and jalapeños, then bake until bubbly. A light 20-minute Tex-Mex snack or quick lunch.

Quick vegetable stir fry with green beans, mushrooms, scallions, and slivered almonds seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Ready in 20 minutes.

Butter-seared halibut steaks baked with strips of smoked salmon, lemon-sherry pan sauce, and walnuts. An elegant seafood dinner ready in 20 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.

Cocktail wieners simmer in a sweet-tart orange sauce spiced with cloves and cinnamon. A retro party appetizer in 20 minutes flat.