Parsley

Lighter, brighter flavors make this old-fashioned salad new again.

Leaving a bit of skin on the eggplant adds to the pesto's texture and color. Pour a Pinot Noir or Provençal rosé with the meal.

This salad is a cook's dream because it must be made the day before serving. If you would rather eat it on the same day it is made, cook the cracked wheat in boiling salted water for 2 minutes, then drain through a fine sieve. Proceed with the recipe, but serve immediately without refrigerating.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A light and flavorful way to cook fish.

An essential ingredient in their cuisine of Corfu, vinegar provides the distinctive taste in this traditional main course named "sofrito". The veal is commonly served with mashed potatoes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Jim Fobel, cookbook author, says, "My mother always added lots of sage and nutmeg to her stuffing. I loved those flavors when I was a kid, and I still put them in the stuffings that I make today."

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Gently drain the liquid from the top of the yogurt before combining with other ingredients so that the flavors are not diluted.

The same parsley butter (which can be prepared three days ahead) seasons the pasta and the broccoli rabe served alongside.

Unlike most tamal recipes, which use dried corn (masa harina), this one is Cuban-style, made with fresh corn kernels. I've also added a different touch by replacing the traditional pork filling with conch. The flavor and texture proved very popular at Yuca, and it remained on the menu as a fixture. These tamales are very convenient for entertaining. They can be made ahead of time and frozen, or kept in the refrigerator and then popped in the microwave. In fact, it's not worth making a smaller batch, so you'll probably want to freeze some of them. Likewise, the pesto can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated.

These mussels, flavored with garlic-herb butter and baked instead of steamed, beg for some crusty bread to sop up the wonderful sauce. Try them over pasta, too. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 35 min

Wonderful as a side dish with grilled sea bass, halibut, or marinated, skewered shrimp.

A nice accompaniment to grilled sea bass, scallops or shrimp.