The hot, heavy summer weather is upon us; no one feels like working in the kitchen after a full day at the job, but what about supper? For an easy, yet nutritious and delicious meal, have a healthy tuna-salad. Simply drain a can of tuna, add mayonnaise and pickle relish to taste, and you have the beginning. Add a bed of lettuce, a garnish of cherry tomatoes, perhaps a sprinkling of fresh chives from your garden and you have a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Fill out your meal with some fresh rolls from the bakery department of your local grocery store, with some fruit for dessert and you have a banquet with almost no effort.

There are many ways to spice up a tuna salad: chopped celery, diced scallions or red onion, capers, and pine nuts are some ideas that can get you started. Be creative, and relax; there is no wrong recipe for tuna salad. Inventing a new cuisine may seem appealing but if we think outside the box we can create something altogether new with food we have at our fingertips. Baked tuna is a refreshing change from tuna salad and sandwiches.

My favorite dish combines tuna, macaroni and cheese, and cream of mushroom soup. To create a gourmet sensation, add some diced pimentos, chopped onion or bell pepper and perhaps, a little fresh, snipped dill weed. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes until bubbly and fragrant. You may top with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese or, crumbled potato chips if you are so inclined. If you have never tried tuna in place of cooked chicken in a recipe, you have been missing a whole new realm of delicious dishes!

My favorite way to make tuna with tangerines is to baste it with a sauce made of soy sauce, garlic paste, ginger paste, lime, sugar, and a small amount of ground cayenne. I place the fish in foil and grill it till it is browned. Meanwhile, on the side, I have grilled some chopped vegetables such as green onions (including their green 'tails'), garlic, potatoes and some fruit such as ripe mangoes. I plate the fish, garnish with lightly browned vegetables and fruit, and then top off with more ginger-soy sauce.

Tune has its very strong smell and it is better to use copious quantity of vegetables and fruits along with while serving. Place the green onions on top. A grilled fish dish such as this one is easy to make and always makes one look like a gourmet cook! Serve this with a light, fruity white wine!