Kathy Brennan

We eat this salad—which is a great way to stretch a piece of beef—all year long for lunch and dinner, but it's particularly good during the warmer months. The thinly sliced meat, the crunch of the cucumbers and red onions, and the heady aroma of mint and cilantro tossed with the chile-spiked salty-sweet dressing seem made for hot days and nights.

Picture your favorite Tex-Mex cheese dip and the ultimate mac 'n' cheese. Now picture them together.

There's something about the pairing of chicken and rice that is so appealing and comforting, and these paella-like dishes are definitely perennial crowd-pleasers.

This condiment, called nam pla prik, is found on virtually every home and restaurant table in Thailand.