One-Dish Wonders

How can you entertain friends for dinner and still enjoy yourself without being run ragged?

One way is to build your menu around a One-Dish Wonder. These six one-dish meals contain all the elements of a main course: fabulous seafood complemented with a starchy base, colorful vegetables and piquant flavorings. All you'll need to round out the meal is a salad, some crusty bread and a dessert. And if a guest should offer to bring something, you can always accept.

These one-dish wonders are ultimately very versatile, making it even easier to tackle them when time is short and the list of things to do is long. We've included alternative seafood suggestions for each so that you can be open-minded-to availability and price-at the fishmonger or supermarket.

For example, in the tradition of Spanish paella, which often features the catch of the day, our Simple Shellfish Paella accommodates substituting a pound of shrimp or any firm fish, keeping in mind that other choices may require different cooking times.

Also, these hearty recipes are quick to make and designed to serve up to eight. If you're not feeding a crowd, you can have two or three meals from a small amount of work, with extras frozen for another time.

And your wallet will feel the difference when you pair inexpensive or on-sale seafood with what were once called extenders; the low-cost-and healthy-starches such as rice, potatoes, pasta and beans.

As any chef knows, preparing ahead makes good sense. There are two strategies to use with these recipes. One is to have all the ingredients chopped, peeled and so on before the company arrives. You can then invite your guests into the kitchen-to sip a glass of wine, perhaps-while you put together the fettuccine sauce and boil the pasta. Or, if you prefer, serve the salad course first, then excuse yourself to put the finishing touches on the already-made entrée.

Most of these one-dish meals travel well to potlucks, informal parties and out-of-town cabins. For any distance, assemble the dish ahead and transport it chilled to be cooked or re-warmed onsite. But for a neighborhood get-together or a cozy dinner at home, you can serve a piping hot one-dish meal without working yourself to a frazzle. It's the best of all recipes!

• Halibut and Tomato-Bell Pepper Sauce with Fettuccine
• Hearty Seafood Stew
• Scalloped Potatoes with Salmon and Leeks
• Shrimp Lasagna with Three Cheeses
• Simple Seafood Paella
• White Beans, Catfish and Sauteed Mustard Greens