Cheddar

Sabrina Henderson of Gardena, California, writes: "My love of cooking dates back to my junior-high home economics class. After that I took home ec every year I could. My last teacher in high school was the best. He was a former chef who taught us how to make classics like lasagna and chicken cordon bleu. I still prepare those dishes for company."

Great with eggs, chili, soup or stew.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Spreading a little mayonnaise over the outside of the bread before grilling adds golden color and delicious crunch.

Most of the assembly for this layered bread-and-egg dish can be done one day ahead. Serve it hot or warm.

This southern-style omelet would go nicely with sautéed plum tomatoes and warm corn bread. Dessert can be butter pecan ice cream drizzled with bourbon.

If you really want to make this pimento cheese the way my mother does, and you happen to own a hand-crank meat grinder, run the two cheeses once through the fine blade of the grinder into a mixing bowl. Mother simply used to grind the pimentos with the cheeses, but now she prefers to mash them with a heavy fork on a plate until they break up into tiny pieces. She uses homemade mayonnaise but also endorses Hellmann's (a.k.a. Best Foods).

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 45 min

Perfect for a meatless brunch or casual supper.

Cornmeal in the dough gives the bread an appealing, slightly crunchy texture.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.