This dish comes together so quickly it will amaze you and your family. You can try it with Thai green or yellow curry as well. To save time, purchase peeled uncooked shrimp.

If you have trouble finding some of the ingredients for this dish, there are some easy substitutions you can make, and you will still end up with the same delicious results. For the tamarind, make a paste out of lemon juice and dried dates, or use 1/2 cup cider vinegar mixed with 1 Tbsp sugar. For the galangal, use fresh ginger. For the lemon grass, use the rind of 4 small lemons.

This popular Italian rice dish has infinite variations. If you’re short on time, make this risotto a day or two ahead of when you need it. It can be reheated in the oven in just a few minutes.

This recipe is comprised of five steps. The first four steps can each be made a day or two ahead. Don't feel daunted by the long list of ingredients and the many steps. The variety of chilies can be found at Mexican grocery stores as well as at Whole Foods stores. If worse comes to worst, don't sweat it. Use whatever chilies you can lay your hands on. Remember, by doing exactly that, the Mexicans created a handful of delicious mole variations.

Purchase 2 pork loins, 9 bones each. Ask the butcher to trim the backbones for easy carving, and have him tie the roasts together to make a crown. Serve with Tangerine Scented Rice.

Ask the butcher for 2 trimmed lamb rib roasts containing 9 bones each. Make sure he cuts off the back bones, so that it's easier for you to carve the roast, and that he joins the two rib portions to form a crown. Serve the roast with Tangerine Scented Rice.

Serve with very thinly sliced cucumber marinated in seasoned rice vinegar.