Cheddar

My mother's neighbor Beth Yaffe serves this dip often at parties and barbecues. It's always the first thing to go!

For an easy and informal dinner, make a salad and some rice to go alongside this bubbling cheese mixture known as queso fundido. Each diner spoons some of the cheese into warm tortillas. This can also be served as an appetizer at parties. Mix up some Margaritas to add to the fun.

A wonderful brunch dish. You will need to begin preparing it a day before serving.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tangy Irish cheddar or Cashel, an Irish blue cheese, is ideal for this typical main-course pub salad; you can substitute English cheddar or French Roquefort. Thick slices of buttered soda bread and some raisin tarts could round out the menu.

When preparing the following pastas in advance (up to six hours), keep them covered and chilled and then let them come to room temperature before baking.