Red Skin Potato

Great with: Grilled rib-eye steak.

Roasting the meat uncovered during the last hour allows the sauce to reduce. Serve with the Cauliflower-Leek Kugel with Almond-Herb Crust and steamed asparagus. The brisket can be made two days ahead.

Joy Ackerman of Cincinnati, Ohio, writes: "After cooking for a family of six for years, I've become a pro at streamlining recipes and being organized in the kitchen. My children are now grown and out of the house, but that hasn't changed how I cook or shop. I still make a monthly menu plan, and often find myself cooking my kids' favorite dishes whenever they visit." Unpeeled red-skinned potatoes give this rich, garlicky side its great texture.

Editor's note: This recipe is from Brini Maxwell's Guide to Gracious Living. For Maxwell's tips on throwing a summer pool party, click here. What family reunion would be complete without potato salad? This is my mother's recipe. It's delicious — tasty and tangy, just as potato salad should be.

Diane Semrad Anderson of Louisville, Kentucky, writes: "This is a peasant dish inspired by my Bohemian grandmother, who used her own homemade sausage in a similar creation. It is simple and delicious."

Potato salad with a southwestern kick‑the perfect partner for grilled flank steak, chicken or red snapper seasoned with cumin.

A dish from the Pays de Caux region in northern France, where it is called salade Cauchoise. The salad is traditionally bound with crème fraîche, but it is delicious made with mayonnaise, too. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Red potatoes keep their shape well — they don’t disintegrate during cooking — and they absorb the flavors around them, like the garlic and rosemary in these pizzas. The flaky white crystals of Maldon sea salt, which is hand-harvested in Maldon, England, make a beautiful garnish for these pizzas. Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 4 hr

(Savory Stuffed Pastries)

A tangy, refreshing take on summer's classic back-yard side dish.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.