Simmer

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A platter of thickly sliced tomatoes topped with buttermilk-herb dressing and chopped hard-boiled eggs is a colorful partner for the soup. For dessert, have some fresh berries with whipped cream. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Feta cheese, cucumber, tomato and fresh dell enliven this simple salad.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Salamander's chef, Stan Frankenthaler, combines mussels with spicy sausage and Thai flavorings, such as coconut milk and lime juice.

I like to think of this as instant, guilt-free mousse. Honey-and-almond-laced whipped ricotta makes the perfect topping for the berries of your choice. Try layering the berries and the ricotta in a parfait glass for an elegant and easy dessert.

Swirl a little cream decoratively into each bowl of soup for an elegant presentation.

A modern take on old-fashioned ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cone "drumsticks." For a rich, satisfying but lower-fat dessert, serve the delicious chocolate sorbet on its own without mixing in the peanut butter cup candies.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This fruit ice is flavored with cinnamon and allspice. It is garnished with slices of peach, nectarine and plum; other seasonal fruit would work, too. Follow with iced espresso.

A quick low-fat, no-cholesterol side dish.

Jalapeño and basil add zip to a classic dish.

There must be as many versions of this—Ireland's national dish—as there are cooks. One thing all recipes should say is that the stew is to be cooked slowly until the lamb is meltingly tender. This stew is the ideal dish to return to after a day in the open air, as it can be made ahead and reheated while cook and guests enjoy the hot punch.