Seafood

(Italian Parsley Sauce)

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20s — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Luckily, my husband, Loren, likes to cook as much as I do, so we really work as a team when we give dinner parties. We're both real estate agents, and we like to entertain clients — we've made some great friends by selling houses to them." Silky and light, this blender soup would make a delicate summer starter. Bonus: It comes together very quickly.

Camarones al Ajillo Guajillo chiles are flavorful, fruity, and only mildly hot. Here, they are sautéed to impart a smoky flavor, then cooked slowly with tomatoes to soften them. These chiles are not soaked beforehand, which allows them to maintain texture. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Cubans call this delicious stew enchilado, and while that might sound a lot like enchilada, the two dishes are nothing alike.

Madeira, shiitake mushrooms and hot pepper sauce make the gravy in this dish from Jack Fry's something special. It's great for brunch.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Start this romantic supper with Russian caviar and ice-cold lemon vodka. The main course is a simplified but impressive interpretation of the Russian fish pie known as kulebiaka, which the French call coulibiac. Offer Champagne with the entrée, and finish the meal with babas au rhum from a French bakery to complete the cross-European elegance.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A high-protein dish loaded with flavor. Purchased sorbet makes a nice dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.