Starter

You can also serve this soup cold or at room temperature. Puree it in batches to prevent overflow (particularly because you do so while it’s hot), if needed. You can stir in a small amount of water to thin the soup after pureeing it, if you like.

This lively guacamole can also be served as a dip with tortilla chips. If you want to make it a day ahead, be sure to press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent browning.

We like this soup best when served hot, but it is also delightfully refreshing well chilled.

This soup must be served very cold, so for best results, prepare it a day ahead and let it chill overnight in the refrigerator.

Be sure to purchase firm or extra-firm tofu for this soup, as it will hold up better in hot liquid than softer varieties. Because the flavor and healthful qualities of miso are affected when boiled or with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, it should be added only at the end of cooking. Whisk it with a bit of liquid first so it is quickly and evenly distributed. We used white miso, which is lower in sodium, but you can use darker types for a stronger, more pronounced flavor.

Cilantro’s pungent fragrance partners well with fruity tomatillos in a lively pesto. The mixture offsets the spiciness of the cumin and jalapeño in this delectable soup.

We used a combination of French breakfast, white icicle, and pink beauty radishes, but you can use any variety you’d like. When the weather is hot, sprinkle radishes with crushed ice before serving to keep them crisp.

This recipe is courtesy of Donald Barickman; it was created with and named for his father, Elwood.

Serve this quick appetizer with a hearty brown bread.

To stuff the squash blossoms easily, spoon the filling into a pastry bag fitted with a coupler; pipe it directly into each blossom.

Cheese drizzled with honey is a traditional Mediterranean appetizer; when mixed with fruit and nuts, it makes a tantalizing dessert.