American

A colorful salad of cooked green beans, roasted red pepper strips and marinated artichoke hearts looks and tastes terrific with this meatless version of a classic. Pass a plate of brownies for dessert.

The ingredients of the traditional Denver omelet top savory French toast. Alongside, offer sliced tomatoes with balsamic or red wine vinegar and crumbled marjoram. End with oatmeal cookies and oranges.

Traditional beef stew with Spanish overtones. It's delicious over rice or pasta.

Onions, olives, basil and lemon accent this unusual combination from Un Grand Café in Chicago, Illinois. If you cannot find Yukon Gold potatoes, regular white-skinned potatoes will do nicely.

The following log cabins are basically a simple construction project. The directions for making them may seem long, but each one can be assembled in about 10 minutes with a bit of patience.

"Four-spices" usually include four of five spices and are commonly used to season forcemeats for sausages and terrines. I include all five. This is one combination of spices that I try to keep on hand in small quantities. This recipes is a suggestion; quantities and proportions given are typical but not written in stone. Vary the amounts to suit your own palate.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Purchased pound cake is sliced and toasted or grilled, then dressed up with a luscious chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.

This dessert comes from Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco, California. The pastry chef, Karen Shaw, created the treat.

A favorite Christmas drink is transformed into this lovely custard.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.