Rosemary

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This jelly is a delicious alternative to the traditional mint jelly served as an accompaniment to roasted meats such as lamb or turkey.

Fresh herbs and pancetta (Italian cured bacon) blanket the pork before it goes into the oven. Ask the butcher to tie the two loins to hold their shape. Begin marinating the meat one day before serving. What to drink: Open a few bottles of spicy Zinfandel or hearty Bordeaux to place on the buffet table.

This assertive-tasting aioli would be a great spread for turkey sandwiches.

"While visiting Chicago, I had dinner at The Berghoff," writes Mary H. Wright of Arlington, Virginia. "I'd like to prepare the excellent lamb chops for my family."

Lombo di Maiale Ripieno di Mortadella con Patate Arrosto This dish was inspired by a truffled mortadella we tasted in Rome. Good-quality mortadella can be found at butcher shops, at Italian markets, and even in the deli section of many supermarkets. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

This parsley-based pesto is a nice alternative to the classic basil one--and it's especially handy for December, when there might not be fresh basil at the market. The recipe yields about 1 1/3 cups of sauce.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Roasting the garlic for the dressing sweetens it and softens its pungency. By the way, our interpretation of this salad did omit one traditional element—there is no raw egg in it, in keeping with modern health concerns.

These Italian-style breadsticks are a deliciously different addition to Thanksgiving dinner. You will need a plastic spray bottle filled with water to mist the oven while the breadsticks are baking (the water makes them crusty and chewy on the outside and slightly softer inside).

A little bit of feta cheese goes a long way in the tangy marinade for this dish.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

On the island of Corsica, whole fish is simply baked or grilled for maximum flavor. Local cooks often use mountain trout, sea bream, grouper or mullet, but you can use sea trout, lingcod or sea bass with good results.

This recipe was inspired by one from olive oil expert Lidia Colavita. You can make a meal around the bread by offering it as an accompaniment to bean soup.

Uncork a Cabernet Sauvignon or Burgundy to serve with dinner.

Offer with the mashed potatoes and some steamed broccoli. Have crunchy ginger cookies for an easy dessert.

Ami Askins of San Diego, California tried a garlicky dipping oil at Grappa in Park City, Utah. And although bottles of the oil are sold at the restaurant, she'd like to be able to make it fresh at home. Try this versatile dipping oil with bite-size pieces of your favorite breads — or drizzled over sliced tomatoes.