Radish

If you can find them, large, bright pink watermelon radishes will look and taste great here.

This light starter can be prepared ahead of time and is a smart alternative to fussy holiday hors d'oeuvres. It has an unbelievably fresh flavor, even when made with frozen soybeans.

Made with crisp radishes, salty olives, and feta, and dressed with minted olive oil and lemon, this salad really sings. Not technically a grain, but rather the seed of an herb, quinoa hails from South America. (It is often called a "supergrain" because it contains more protein than any grain.) Bulgur comes from the hulled, cracked berries of whole wheat, and has a nutty flavor.

Chojín Alma Guillermoprieto of Cambridge, Massachusetts, writes: "My guatemalan grandmother made a salad she called chojín. I remember the taste vividly, but when I went to Guatemala, no one knew the dish. This is my attempt to re-create it." While the ingredients in this recipe are extremely simple, the result is an eye-opening explosion of flavors.

For a main-course salad, add some grilled shrimp or chicken and diced papaya.

If you're making the striped bass in agrodolce sauce as well as this salad, save 1/3 cup chopped fennel fronds for garnishing the fish.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Old-fashioned (and high fat) favorites take a lighter turn when prepared with nonfat yogurt or low-fat mayonaise; radishes and herbs give the eggs a modern twist.

The hors d¸oeuvres may be made 1-1/2 hours in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled.

What could be better than this racy little salad with its spicy radishes, tender mâche, and crunchy endive tossed in a cool, clear dressing? Your guests can sit back, relax, and sip their wine before diving into the sweet finale of cake and tartlets. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe was created to accompany Smoked Whitefish Cakes with Cucumber Salsa. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Because this dish was developed to complement the strong flavors of Pork Loin with Morel Stuffing, we kept the seasoning in these vegetables to a minimum. If you plan to serve this dish with simpler fare, you might want to increase the amount of garlic and herbs.