Fresh sorrel, a sour-tasting herb, looks like thin spinach. Remove any thick stems from the sorrel and spinach before making the homemade pesto. If sorrel isn¿t available, fill in with extra spinach.

Goat cheese, with its intense flavor, is a delightful complement to dried tomatoes and fresh basil. Together, they make an ideal spread for entertaining or everyday snacking.

A cream cheese-bacon spread, combined with spinach and roasted red peppers makes for a bright, colorful filling in this make-ahead snack.

Bring the fresh style and bold flavors of the Caribbean to your backyard grill with these red onion, nectarine, and chicken kabobs, steeped in a sweet-and-fiery marinade.

Mole (MOH-lay), a Mexican specialty, is a rich, reddish-brown sauce that contains an unexpected ingredient -- chocolate. Chili powder, garlic, and tomatoes also flavor this sauce, a common accompaniment to poultry.

Kabobs are a fun way to serve fruit for parties, and a cool dip adds extra pizzazz. Seasonal substitutes, such as fresh peaches, nectarines, and plums or mangoes, add flavorful variety.

Spring is prime time for fresh asparagus and new potatoes. Both are showcased here in a frittata, the classic Italian omelet. Use a broiler-proof skillet, as the frittata finishes cooking under the broiler.

Smoked jalape¿os are called ¿chipotles.¿ They have all the heat of jalape¿o peppers, plus a mellow smoky flavor. Look for chipotles en adobo in Mexican or Latin American groceries or large supermarkets.

A surefire dinner favorite, these mashed potatoes are lightened with reduced-fat cream cheese, skim milk, and a homemade, lower-fat pesto featuring basil and spinach.

The mystique of North Africa is captured in richly flavored recipes such as this one, which are abundant in fruits and aromatic spices. Serve this rich, slow-grilled chicken dish over fluffy couscous or saffron rice.