Bell Pepper

Here is a light and festive way to introduce a holiday meal. This elegant soup goes very well with Champagne.

Known as coca, this is the traditional street food of Palma. The name derives from the Latin verb coquere, which means "to cook". Shaped in a long oval or rectangle, baked in a wood-fired oven and sold in room-temperature squares, coca is usually eaten as a snack, but it can also be a great starter for a casual meal. Unlike its Italian counterpart, it is covered only with vegetables, never with cheese. There are sweet cocas and special holiday versions, too. When made with frozen bread dough, coca is a snap to prepare.

At the fish market, ask them to remove the head, tail and bones from the trout, then to cut each trout into two fillets, leaving the skin intact.

You can prepare the polenta a day ahead. The chicken and vegetables can be made earlier in the day, and both can be reheated before serving. Team this with a radicchio and arugula salad, and uncork a Pinot Grigio.

With steamed asparagus and some rice or mashed potatoes, this easy dish is elegant enough for company.

This all-in-one main course can be made several hours ahead.

Serve this stew over rice or on its own as a soup. Either way, sprinkle lettuce with rice vinegar and oriental sesame oil for a light salad. Sliced blood oranges and holiday cookies will do nicely afterward.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

On a weekday, accompany this main course with breadsticks and marinated vegetables from the deli. Wrap up with grapes and cookies. For a festive occasion, start with an antipasto of olives and roasted vegetables, then serve an arugula, radicchio and toasted walnut salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette. Finish with an Italian fruit crostata.

Outstanding in flavor and freshness, these marinated vegetables are unlike anything you'll find in a jar or deli case. But do make a trip to your local Italian delicatessen for sliced assorted cold cuts and crusty bread to go with the vegetables. It all adds up to an impressive no-hassle starter.

Try this with any roasted meat or as a topper for crostini. Begin making it a day ahead.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.