This refreshing salad has a mildly tangy dressing that would complement most any entree. After enjoying a similar salad at a restaurant, I tried to re-create it at home. Adding sliced grilled chicken makes it a meal in itself.—Vickie Madrigal, Shreveport, Louisiana

I don't prepare dessert often but this pie is one of the exceptions. Sugar-free pudding, a reduced-fat graham cracker crust and a few other items keep the fat and calories down, but no one guesses that this sweet treat is lighter than other desserts.—Vickie Madrigal, Shreveport, Louisiana

This delicious pear flavored cake is topped with butterscotch whipped cream and will be a showstopper when you present it to family or guests. Jeanne Holt - Mendota Heights, Minnesota

TURKEY at Thanksgiving is a timeless tradition. But you can give your holiday meal a novel twist with these birds of a different feather. The holiday treats are cute, sweet and made from all kinds of goodies youngsters love to nibble on. "The kids and I had a ball making these tasty turkeys for Thanksgiving one year," shares Sue Gronholz of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. "They loved forming the turkey bodies from the gooey cereal mixture and twisting the sandwich cookies apart. "But using chocolate frosting to "glue" on the candy corn was their favorite part." This recipe makes a big batch of tempting turkeys, so there are plenty for snacking and sharing. These festive fall treats also would make fun favors at each place setting on your Thanksgiving table—if your family doesn't gobble them up first!

Steamed broccoli with butter and lemon pepper.

Time: 45 minutes. The luscious sauce makes this French toast taste like sticky toffee pudding. (Put leftover sauce on ice cream.)

This recipe goes with Salmon Burgers

Flank steak is widely available and easy to recognize by its long, flat shape and distinctive longitudinal grain. Cutting across the grain breaks up the muscle fibers for more tender slices.

Flavorful skirt steak is a favorite cut in Mexican cuisine. Because of its oblong shape, it may be difficult to fit the entire steak in your grill pan. If so, simply cut it in half across the grain and cook both halves at the same time. You can always substitute flank steak, if you prefer.

Cumin and chili powder season this traditional chili from Sandy Dilatush of Denver, Colorado. Quesadillas on the side make this Southwestern soup a meal.

I live to serve this side with any main dish. With pina colada yogurt and toasted coconut, the fruit medley brings a hint of the tropics to the table.—Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

This is the perfect finale to any Mexican meal. A friend shared this recipe. We lightened it and came up with this treat. We hope you agree that it's a great way to end meals.—Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

“This is such a rich dish, you don’t need to serve a lot with it. For a simple garnish instead of the bacon, I add a drop of hot sauce to the top and drag a butter knife through it.” Mildred Caruso - Brighton, Tennessee

Warm up weeknights with bowls of this thick, cheesy soup that captures the zippy flavors of the Southwest.-Beverly Matthews, Pasco, Washington

Meet the Cook: There were 11 children in my family when I was growing up, and my husband and I have seven grown children (and now eight grandchildren). Need less to say, I have been cooking ever since I could handle a spoon. People love this soup's flavor and creamy cheese consistency. I've given the recipe to friends, who've varied it a little. One substituted summer squash and zucchini for the rutabaga. She said it tasted just great that way, too. -Helen Riesterer, Kiel, Wisconsin

This dish is a favorite of ours because it suits both my husband's and my tastes. We love the touch of sweet flavor with cabbage. The apple adds color, and it's a compatible side dish with ham and baked or sweet potatoes. -Mary Skram, Columbia, Missouri

When I have fruit and milk or other foods I need to use up, I like to create my own recipes. Any combination of fruit works well in this refreshing shake recipe. -Romaine Wetzel, Ronks, Pennsylvania

This recipe goes with Cantonese Chicken with Vegetables

When Sandy Moyer of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania asked Light & Tasty to trim down her favorite site dish, we happily obliged. Boasting 106 fewer calories and almost 60% less fat, Makeover Pineapple Casserole is a smart addition to any Easter lineup. Try it yourself and see how quickly it becomes a spring staple in your home.

This dish is a change from the regular casserole. It is a great side for many different meats.—Beth Koehler, Mansfield, Pennsylvania

This dish reheats beautifully—and may even be better the second day.

Ideal for a weeknight supper, this vegetarian-friendly soup can be made ahead and reheated just before serving. Ladle a bowl alongside a green salad and slice of hearty bread.

Scones, like biscuits, are most tender when handled minimally. So have your ingredients ready, and use a soft touch when mixing and patting the dough.

Greek flavors abound in this tasty and tender chicken dish that's cooked in the slow cooker. Olives, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar combine with chicken for a special treat tonight. Radelle Knappenberger - Oviedo, Florida

A unique combination of basil and mint in the dressing adds fresh appeal to this outstanding salad. The recipe comes with my tried-and-true approval.

This recipe is best made a week in advance—they really reach perfection at 10 days. Double or triple this zippy recipe...you won't regret it!—Dean Schrock, Jacksonville, Florida

Marie Roberts of Lake Charles, Louisiana loves the lighter version of her shrimp casserole. And why not? It has only half the calories and sodium and 76% less fat than her original recipe. — Taste of Home's Test Kitchen

This made-lighter main dish will add a special touch to any event. “Green pepper and garlic give it a fresh vegetable aroma," Christine Rukavena relates from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

These are the perfect single serving for breakfast. It is a great way to use zucchini from the garden.—Jan Collier, Lubbock, Texas

Deliver with potato chips and fresh fruit.

I eat a lot of salad and this is one of my favorite dressings. Living in Florida, I like using orange products produced in our state.

This crowd-pleaser is like a German potato salad made with colorful beans. My mom's been preparing this salad for years—it's so simple to create and great to take to church suppers. #151;Angela Leinenbach, Mechanicsville, Virginia

I concocted this recipe in my kitchen, and I've received a lot of compliments on it. I make it often for my husband and me, and I've also served it to guests at brunches and dinner parties.

For the salad, Molly relies on a tangy dressing she's been whipping up since childhood. "This is my signature dressing,: she writes. "I don't know where it came from originally, but I still have the tattered recipe card, written in my childish scrawl."

Our Test Kitchen staff came up with this moist French toast bake that’s a snap to assemble the night before and bake in the morning. While it’s pleasantly sweet as is, let guests drizzle raspberry syrup over the top for a finishing touch.

Pears add a sweet flavor boost to mashed sweet potatoes.

For a comforting weeknight meal, try this easy version of a turkey potpie. Refrigerated biscuits create the golden crust that covers creamy ground turkey and vegetables.—Vicki Kerr, Portland, Maine

We lightened up a recipe that had 40 grams of fat per serving. The results are a better-for-you bake that's just as satisfying.

This traditional Mediterranean bread salad uses pita; experiment with leftover whole wheat, French, or sourdough bread cut into cubes and toasted before tossing with the other ingredients.

The beans keep refrigerated for 4 days Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross W-S Journal

We were "on a roll" right through dessert! Our eye-catching cake was shaped like a giant die with chocolate sandwich cookie spots. The level of difficulty for making this tender chocolate cube is "Easy"!—Leslie Dumm, Clevemand Heights, Ohio