36 no winner recipes

Microwave sole fillets in a creamy tarragon white wine sauce with broccoli and Parmesan. A light, elegant fish dinner ready in 30 minutes with no stovetop required.

Eat heartily, accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. In fact, I typed this accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. My parents were here, and both were shouting instructions over my shoulder. They disagreed about the arrangement of the lettuce - my mother said that the hole in the middle of the platter was necessary; my father insisted that it wasn't, saying you can just dump the tuna on top of the lettuce. I finally had to give up on this reply until they went home. So now, in the peace and quiet of the aftermath, I've finished it. Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

It's easy, tasty and satisfying. A perfect dinner on a busy week day. No need to order takeout. This homemade version will definitely beat any takeouts, and much better for you.

Freezer-prep hamburgers: portion, bundle, and freeze quarter-pound patties with their buns for grab-and-grill weeknight dinners. Cook straight from frozen on the grill or in a skillet. No thawing required.

This co-winner in the filled-cookie category from Gerry Cofta of Milwaukee has a great, rich flavor in the filling.

Crustless crawfish quiche made with Bisquick, cheddar cheese, and sauteed crawfish tails with garlic and celery. A no-fuss, one-dish Cajun brunch or dinner in about an hour.

Three-ingredient cheeseburger mac made with canned hamburger soup, elbow macaroni, and grated cheddar. A no-fuss weeknight dinner the whole family will devour in minutes.

Grilled salmon en papillote with homemade basil-garlic butter, tomato slices, lemon, and bay leaf. Sealed in foil packets on the barbecue for a no-mess dinner.

Pesto spaghetti tossed with a fresh parsley and basil sauce, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and butter. A 30-minute pasta dinner with a no-cook pesto that freezes well.

Loaded baked potato topping with diced chicken, green chilies, corn, and a cumin-lime mayo dressing. A no-cook Tex-Mex dinner ready in 15 minutes using leftover chicken.

Pan-fried salmon steak with green onions, fresh dill, and lemon. A no-fuss dinner for one that's crusty on the outside and tender inside in about 30 minutes.

Whole trout or salmon baked on a bed of sliced vegetables with bacon draped on top. Just four ingredients and 30 minutes for a no-fuss fish dinner with built-in sides.

Red wine roast chicken seasoned with garlic, oregano, and a bright splash of red wine vinegar. Buttery, herby, and crisp on top, this oven-roasted chicken is a no-fuss dinner that delivers serious flavor.

Crustless tuna and cheddar pie that makes its own base from Bisquick, eggs, and milk. Topped with tomato slices and melted cheese. A one-dish dinner with no rolling or crimping.

Add sophistication to your dinner in no time at all with this succulent chicken dish.

Chilled cream of cucumber soup with sour cream, fresh dill, and parsley. A cool, refreshing summer starter that's better made the day before. No fuss, no stove time after dinner.