Bon Appétit

Try a milder domestic Gorgonzola (rather than the equally delicious but more pungent Italian version). Using an assortment of different colored beets makes the salad more vibrant.

Ask your fishmonger to skin the salmon fillets for you.

This fragrant dish would be great served over couscous.

Complete the tropical scene by garnishing these pink drinks with paper umbrellas or (unsprayed) orchids.

Brunch isn't really brunch without sparkling cocktails. This is an almond-flavored take on the classic.

Start this dish at least 4 hours ahead. The chicken can also marinate overnight. What to drink: A delicate white wine with floral aromas, like Pinot Gris from Austria or Alsace.

The flavor intensity of watercress can vary, so the amount needed for this soup will vary, too, depending on whether you like a strong or mild watercress taste.

Make this multicolored salad a day ahead and chill it overnight for best flavor.

Prepare this a day ahead so all of the elements can meld and the ladyfingers to soften fully.

The pesto works well as a sauce for pasta, chicken, or fish, too.

The chicken needs to marinate for at least four hours (or overnight), so be sure to start in advance. What to drink: Crisp, full-bodied white wine like Chablis or unoaked Chardonnay from California.

Ann Gillespie of Alexandria, Virginia, writes: "Because I'm balancing graduate school and a family, I try to cook things that don't take a lot of time. But I love experimenting with ingredients, so most of my recipes are easy to make and use interesting flavor combinations. During the week, salads are our mainstay. When we get bored with veggies, we add different fruits, like the blueberries in the recipe here."