You can brush this versatile sauce over cubed skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs. Or use it as a dipping sauce with spring rolls. Time: 40 minutes.

CALORIES 254(14% from fat); FAT 4g (sat 0.7g,mono 0.8g,poly 1.6g); PROTEIN 35.6g; CHOLESTEROL 259mg; CALCIUM 110mg; SODIUM 514mg; FIBER 1.9g; IRON 4.6mg; CARBOHYDRATE 17.6g

ready in about 30 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • Sauce:
  • low-sodium teriyaki sauce
  • Kebabs:
  • Cooking spray
You can omit the small amount of coffee liqueur without drastically changing the flavor. Contemporary Mexican chefs often add ground red pepper to their chocolate desserts; leave it out if you want a more traditional taste.

CALORIES 178(28% from fat); FAT 5.6g (sat 2.7g,mono 1.9g,poly 0.2g); PROTEIN 5.3g; CHOLESTEROL 26mg; CALCIUM 41mg; SODIUM 90mg; FIBER 1.9g; IRON 0.9mg; CARBOHYDRATE 30.7g

ready in about an hour; serves 8
You might need to buy:
  • Cooking spray
  • granulated sugar
  • granulated sugar
  • unsweetened cocoa
  • all-purpose flour
  • ground cinnamon
  • salt
  • fat-free milk
  • vanilla extract
  • large egg yolk
  • cream of tartar
  • large egg whites
  • granulated sugar
Prepare this early on the day of the party; chill until your guests arrive.

CALORIES 52(5% from fat); FAT 0.3g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 0.6g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 17mg; SODIUM 1mg; FIBER 1.8g; IRON 0.5mg; CARBOHYDRATE 13g

ready in about 15 minutes; serves 8
You might need to buy:
  • sugar
  • chopped fresh mint
  • fresh lime juice

Amaretto provides an interesting twist on the traditional margarita’s orange curaçao liqueur. We start with a homemade sweet-and-sour mix that can be prepared several days in advance. When guests arrive, add the remaining ingredients. To serve in salt-rimmed glasses, pour sea salt on a small plate. Rub the rim of each glass with a lime wedge, and then dip the rim in the salt.

Spirit note: The most important words in choosing a tequila are “100 percent agave.” Unless you spot this phrase on the label, you’re getting as little as 51 percent agave, with lots of sugar added to make up the difference. An exceptional value is 1800 Reposado ($24). “Reposado” indicates the tequila was “rested” in oak, imparting flavors of citrus zest and butterscotch, which complement the nutty amaretto in this innovative margarita. —Jeffery Lindenmuth

CALORIES 209(0.0% from fat); FAT 0.1g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 0.4g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 9mg; SODIUM 2mg; FIBER 0.2g; IRON 0.1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 31g

ready in about 15 minutes; serves 8
You might need to buy:
  • orange juice
  • tequila
  • water
  • sugar
  • lime slices
Fresh mint leaves steep in fat-free milk to impart the herb’s essence; the taste is much better than that of mint extract. Unless milk is stabilized with a thickener such as flour or cornstarch, it will “break,” or curdle, when it becomes too hot; that’s why it’s important to go no higher than 180 degrees at the beginning of step one. CALORIES 227(25% from fat); FAT 6.4g (sat 3.2g,mono 2.5g,poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 6.7g; CHOLESTEROL 105mg; CALCIUM 173mg; SODIUM 106mg; FIBER 1.2g; IRON 1.1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 39.4g
ready in about 15 minutes; serves 6
You might need to buy:
  • fat-free milk
  • sugar
  • cornstarch
  • unsweetened cocoa
  • salt
  • vanilla extract

Chocolate, pecans, and bourbon fill petite versions of the state’s favorite pie. CALORIES 74(32% from fat); FAT 2.8g (sat 0.7g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.7g); PROTEIN 1.1g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 5mg; SODIUM 83mg; FIBER 0.4g; IRON 0.5mg; CARBOHYDRATE 12.6g

ready in about 45 minutes; serves 18
You might need to buy:
  • Pastry:
  • sugar
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • vegetable shortening
  • ice water
  • Cooking spray
  • Filling:
  • semisweet chocolate chips
  • sugar
  • light-colored corn syrup
  • egg substitute
  • bourbon
  • all-purpose flour
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
Whole wheat flour and oatmeal offer whole grains. The prudent amount of walnuts adds fiber, vitamin E, and unsaturated fats. The English walnuts (the most common variety in supermarkets) provide nearly 20 percent of an adequate daily intake of heart-healthy omega-3 fats per serving. CALORIES 241(30% from fat); FAT 8.1g (sat 1.9g,mono 3.1g,poly 2.5g); PROTEIN 4.6g; CHOLESTEROL 23mg; CALCIUM 89mg; SODIUM 164mg; FIBER 2.1g; IRON 1.8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 38.9g
ready in about 45 minutes; serves 12
You might need to buy:
  • packed brown sugar
  • baking powder
  • ground cinnamon
  • salt
  • 1% low-fat milk
  • canola oil
  • vanilla extract
  • large egg
  • Streusel:
  • regular oats
  • brown sugar
  • ground cinnamon

This recipe showcases two prized ingredients from Frances Provence region: aromatic herbes de Provence and coarse sea salt. The preparation is simple, with a minimum of ingredients, and the results are sublime.

ready in about an hour and 20 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • Tbs. olive oil
  • Tbs. herbes de Provence
  • Tbs. sea salt
  • Tbs. coarse sea salt
  • bay leaves
  • baby red potatoes
  • Tbs. olive oil

CALORIES 167(38% from fat); FAT 7g (sat 2.5g,mono 3.3g,poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 23.9g; CHOLESTEROL 37mg; CALCIUM 21mg; SODIUM 266mg; FIBER 0.1g; IRON 1.6mg; CARBOHYDRATE 0.5g

ready in about 30 minutes; serves 6
You might need to buy:
  • chopped fresh thyme
  • chopped fresh oregano
  • chopped fresh parsley
  • olive oil
  • grated lemon rind
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • Cooking spray
  • dry red wine

CALORIES 142(10% from fat); FAT 1.5g (sat 0.4g,mono 0.1g,poly 0.2g); PROTEIN 20.2g; CHOLESTEROL 30mg; CALCIUM 28mg; SODIUM 508mg; FIBER 0.8g; IRON 1.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 12g

ready in about 45 minutes; serves 3
You might need to buy:
  • Cooking spray
  • chopped onion
  • dry breadcrumbs
  • chopped fresh parsley
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • salt
  • dried oregano
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • ground turkey breast
  • large egg white