This light scallop pasta with peas and dill keeps the sauce bright, not heavy. A little butter, lemon juice, olive oil, fresh dill, and starchy pasta water create a glossy sauce that tastes richer than it is. Depending on the pasta you choose, a serving lands around 350 calories with about 20 grams of protein, making it a fresh, satisfying dinner that still feels light.

A plate of small squid or cuttlefish, seared hard in olive oil and tossed with garlic and parsley, can taste like a seaside lunch in Spain, Greece, Portugal, or southern Italy. It is fast, inexpensive, deeply Mediterranean, and much easier to make at home than most people think. Each dish costs well under $10 and is ready in about 10 minutes (after you thaw the seafood, if using frozen).

Aldi shoppers joke about the "Aisle of Shame," but the truth is that this chain consistently sells great cookware and gadgets cheaply. One such gadget is the Aldi Pickle Making Jar, which allows buyers to make pickles that require refrigeration (as opposed to canning). This jar lets you make a quart of delicious Garlic Dill Pickle Spears in about 10 minutes (plus several days of fermenting).