Bell Pepper

The classic cold soup, as interpreted by Ouro Branco restaurant, Vila Viçosa, Portugal.

This recipe is used to prepare Cod Cannelloni with Swiss Chard and Roasted Peppers . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Escalivada Served hot, at room temperature, or chilled, this versatile vegetable mélange shows up frequently on Catalan menus. We love to use Unió, a fragrant, peppery oil made from the region's arbequina olives, both for cooking this dish and for drizzling over it.

The vegetables can be prepared ahead and finished up to the middle of step 3. Heat for 5 minutes before serving.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

This chutney makes a fine accompaniment to chicken, turkey, and sausage.

Satisfying accompaniments for this clever hash would be steamed broccoli and a salad of crisp romaine lettuce with red wine vinaigrette and some shaved Parmesan cheese. We recommend serving slices of Boston cream pie afterward.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Joan Nathan's The Foods of Israel Today is full of intensely flavored recipes, such as this salad. Grab a copy now, while so many fresh vegetables are available.

When preparing bread salad, do not drizzle with oil and vinegar until just before serving, or the bread cubes will become soggy.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 hr

"Last year my family spent the holidays on the Big Island of Hawaii," writes Jo Lucarz of Phoenix, Arizona. "One afternoon we ate lunch in Kamuela at the Parker Ranch Grill, where we had the best chili ever — and coming from a group of Arizona natives, that's saying a lot."

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 1 hr

This is actually two soups that can be served separately or together. Each soup serves four; combined, the two serve eight.