Brunch

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Highlight the homey flavors with boiled turnip greens splashed with vinegar and a basket of biscuits. End with brown-sugar-sweetened peaches and sugar cookies.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The big bowl and tireless motor of a standing mixer take the heavy work out of preparing these tender brioche loaves.

Sue Ellison of Edgewater, Colorado, writes: "Although I play guitar and piano, and have worked for more than 20 years as an elementary-school music teacher, at this point music is just my job; cooking is my passion. It's an interest I share with my daughter, Hannah. We do a phenomenal amount of cooking together. In fact, I think she learned how to count using chocolate chips, standing on a stool next to me at the kitchen counter while I baked chocolate croissants." Roasted pine nuts add a southwestern accent to this lightly sweetened granola. Once the granola has cooled, leave it in large chunks for a snack or crumble it into bits for a cereal topping. Either way, it will keep up to one week if stored airtight.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve with: Deli rice salad (add some thawed frozen corn kernels). Dessert: Melon wedges drizzled with triple sec and fresh lime juice.

Old-fashioned (and high fat) favorites take a lighter turn when prepared with nonfat yogurt or low-fat mayonaise; radishes and herbs give the eggs a modern twist.

These light, tender, and delicious scones are a breeze to make with the aid of a food processor.

Cream of coconut is added to the batter and the whipped cream frosting. You can make and chill the cake up to one day ahead.

"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. Over the years, my cooking style has become more casual; I make dishes that are not too demanding, but still special for company."

Make the cake a day ahead so that it has plenty of time to chill.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.