Liz Tarpy

Craving Chinese? This vegetable-packed stir-fry with a speedy five-ingredient sauce can help thwart a costly and unhealthy trip to your local takeout joint.

Frozen scallops and thin white fish fillets are real time-savers for busy weeknights, as they thaw in a flash and take just minutes to cook. If your fennel bulb comes with the green fronds attached, feel free to use them as a pretty garnish on the soup instead of the parsley. You can use any firm white-fleshed fish for this soup – Pacific cod is another great option.

Russet potatoes have a dry, starchy flesh that becomes wonderfully fluffy when baked, making them the ideal candidate for these richly spiced twice-baked potatoes. Serrano chiles can be quite hot, so reduce the amount used (or substitute with milder jalapeño) if you prefer this dish to be milder.

Brushing the meatloaf with a mix of hoisin sauce and ketchup keeps it moist while also adding an extra layer of savory umami flavor.

This lighter take on chili is made without tomatoes, leaving room for fiber-rich greens. We’ve kept the spices mild to please many palates, but you can easily add more chile powder if you prefer a spicier dish – here at the CE office, we love this meal smothered in hot sauce!