Wanted: Entry-level digital SLR recommendations

I've grown increasingly unhappy with the quality of my digital photos. I feel that I could be doing so much more if I had a camera with more manual options. I think I'm ready to move to an SLR.

Even though I've been taking pictures since I was a teenager, I'm a novice when it comes to camera use. I don't want to go out and spend several thousand dollars on a camera without knowing what features I want. Instead, I'd like to buy a gateway camera, something that I can use to get my feet wet in "real" photography. I'd like to spend a few hundred.

Anyone have recommendations?