American

Buttermilk and blue cheese make this slaw rich and tangy.

Celery and jicama sticks with ranch dip and sweet-potato chips are good with this downright delicious sandwich. Finish with squares of crumb cake and chocolate milk.

Maude Emhoff, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Watch the heat carefully, lowering it as necessary. Do not let the casserole boil, or the pork ribs will toughen.

A gift from Native American cooks, hominy is dried, hulled corn kernels. Sold rehydrated in cans, it also makes a great addition to soups, stews, and casseroles.

While our directions call for lighting the grill with a charcoal chimney, feel free to use whatever method you prefer.

David Ross of Minneapolis, Minnesota, writes: "The bread pudding with banana sauce served at Galatoire's, in New Orleans, is superb. I'd love to get the recipe. It would be a boon to lovers of bread pudding everywhere." Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Offer grilled zucchini slices and a deli pasta salad alongside. Dessert? Berry tartlets from the bakery.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 10 min

These adorable sweets are festive, fun — and so easy to make. Just be sure to freeze the scoops of ice cream overnight before dipping and coating them.

If your tomatoes are on the acidic side, add a little sugar to the sauce. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 14 hr (includes chilling)

Like gumbo, this is a thick and flavorful stew. But it takes a lot less time to make. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr