Vegetable

At farmers' markets, look for Golden Bantam or Silver Queen varieties of corn, which are less sugary than some of the supersweet hybrids.

Smoked Salmon, Hard-Boiled Egg, Tomatoes, Greens and Caper-Onion Mayo This is another one of those fabulous "adult sandwiches." It's hearty enough to pack for work, yet it's perfectly appropriate for a luncheon or brunch. The hardest part of this recipe is assembling the ingredients: that's how easy it is, yet it tastes like a gourmet sandwich you'd find on a restaurant menu or at a specialty deli. Thanks to the salmon, the sandwich is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that our body can't make on its own; it's high in protein and delivers a whopping amount of nutrients per calorie. In other words, it's the heavyweight nutrition champ of sandwiches!

Oil-Packed Tuna, Hard-Boiled Egg, Roasted Fennel, Tomatoes, Tapenade and Greens Lots of cookbooks offer creative ideas for kids' lunches, but what about the rest of us? Lunch can get tiresome for adults, too, so I decided to create a few sandwich recipes for an older crowd—ideas that will get you out of your same-old-sandwich rut, amp up your midday nutrition, and energize you for the demands of the afternoon. If you want a change of pace, this recipe is for you! It's basically egg salad dressed up for an evening out, and it's absolutely delicious! It's loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that keep the brain sharp and help performance, plus protein from the tuna and egg and antioxidants from the fennel; the flavor is over the top! Cook the fennel over the weekend, so you have it on hand to enjoy during the week.

Brussels sprouts, pancetta, and pasta were made for each other. The key is to get a good char on the Brussels sprouts, which helps balance the richness of the porky, eggy sauce.

Chilled Rice Salad with Avocado, Tomatoes and Black Beans Who says white rice isn't healthy? Just look at the nutrient profile of this dish, and you'll surely change your mind. This chilled rice salad is chockfull of veggies, loaded with flavor, and a nice source of fiber and contributes valuable heart-healthy fats to the diet. Plus, it looks beautiful on the table! In particular, this dish is a favorite among the teenage girls in my household because, I am told, "It makes us feel healthy!" Who can argue with that? When you purchase the sun-dried tomatoes, choose those packed in olive oil, because you'll use the oil in the recipe. The rice salad will last 3 days in the refrigerator and makes a delicious lunch or summery dinner.

"Set sun-dried tomatoes on paper towels to soak up some of their oil so the dish doesn't get greasy," Bemis suggests.

The only thing better than Sloppy Joes for dinner is taco night. This hybrid is the best of both worlds.

"This looks impressive, but it's simple to whip up," Bemis says. "It goes great with crusty bread and champagne."

"I spend most of late summer picking these veggies," Bemis says. "I have to get creative to keep up. The pesto makes this combo so refreshing."

Curried Potatoes and Spinach in Naan The flavors of Indian food are magical. They dance on your tongue, and the spice blends transform basic meat and vegetable dishes. Those spices also contribute to good health. Curcumin, a compound in curry, may have the power to lower breast cancer risk. Turmeric, another component of curry and nicknamed the "spice of life," may treat inflammatory diseases and protect our brain as we age. This Indian-inspired alternative to the standard sandwich will get you refueled in no time! Rich in protein and complex carbohydrates and packed with nearly a day's worth of vitamin A, this meal is complemented perfectly by a cooling cucumber-yogurt sauce. You could also serve this for supper, paired with a nice carrot-ginger or lentil soup.

They look unassuming, but these little jars of unctuous spiced meat served with crunchy toast and rich shallots are a decadent and satisfying treat.

We think our wedge salad recipe is the ultimate iteration, but we're not opposed to innovation—like these embellishments and swaps.

To ensure the snow-white color of this soup, don't let the onions brown.

As co-chefs, Hudman and Ticer see each other daily, but the old friends still cook together on days off. "Andy does the steak," says Hudman, "and I do the pasta."

Browning the farro imbues it with a nutty flavor—a step you can add any time you prepare the grain.

Feel free to play with different herbs in the chimichurri recipe—that's what these brothers and co-chefs have always done: "When we were younger, our mom would buy lots of herbs, but she'd never use them," says Michael. "So we'd just blend them with garlic, oil, and vinegar."

The shape of the crystals varies quite a bit from brand to brand, so measuring kosher salts by weight is the most reliable method. Not ready to invest in a scale? See the box below for volume conversions.

This dish is called misticanza ("mixed greens") on the Ava Gene's menu. You can sauté whatever leafy greens you like or happen to have on hand; it's an ideal way to use up those slightly past their prime.

If you'd like, let the croutons sit in the pepper mixture until the bread is fairly soft; it'll soak up the flavorful dressing.

This is a winning-contestant recipe from Season Four of FOX's MasterChef. After you remove the breasts for cooking, you can use what remains of the pheasant to make stock to cook the risotto in. Or, feel free to use chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth.