Recipes from the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen

Drink recipes: A variety of beverages, such as iced Vietnamese coffee, hot chocolate, aquas frescas and Mother's Ruin punch. Cheers!

Appetizer recipes: Get the party started with chicken and pesto turnovers, cheese beignets, smoked salmon and shitakes on toast -- and much, much more.

Breakfast recipes: It's the most important meal of the day, and one you'll look forward to if you're serving bacon-maple biscuits, Square One Dining's French toast, homemade bagels or a cheese omelet with tomatillo sauce.

Bread, cracker & sandwich recipes: Carbs are good. We've got it all: Bagel-making secrets for home bakers, magical honey cakes and all sorts of biscuits. And don't fear the crackers -- they're easy to make.

Salad recipes: No boring greens need apply. We've got warm barley and kale salad with roasted pears and candied prosciutto, Brazilianesque black bean salad, grilled fig salad ...

Soup recipes: These recipes range from simple tomato soup to Kabocha squash soup with pomegranate seeds and spicy candied pecans.

Entree recipes: Take your pick -- we've got naked ribs, Indian-spiced grilled lamb, chili and so much more.

Poultry recipes: Chicken, again? You bet! You won't get bored by these offerings, including chicken fricassee with spring vegetables. Still want something different? How about duck, or turkey or game hen?

Seafood recipes: Grilled shrimp with Romesco, a quick-fix salmon with mustard, Dungeness crab spring rolls with endive and almonds -- just a few of the fresh-from-the-sea offerings.

Vegetarian & vegan recipes: Anything but boring. We've got salads, slaws, sauces, lasagna, enchiladas, tamales....

On the sides: These are the supporting actors for the food world. But as you take a spin through recipes such as rustic summer vegetable casserole, pork dumplings or rice salad with shrimp and arugula, you might consider casting them in a starring role.

Dessert recipes: Save room for something sweet. We've got cakes, cookies, aebleskivers, tarts, ice creams, all things chocolate and more.

Condiments: Sauces, cheeses, jams, dips, marinades, chutneys and salsas -- we've got it all, including sweet and sour lemon sauce, warm fig salsa, spinach dip, guacamole and spice mixtures.