Buttermilk

Here's a perfect way to have the taste of fried oysters without all the extra fat. If the oysters are very large, cut them in half before coating them with the cornmeal.

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

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 40 min

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 25 min

In these easy scones, cumin seeds complement the sharp cheddar, and self-rising flour eliminates the need for baking powder or baking soda. If you prepare the dough the night before, you can just pop the scones into the oven when guests arrive.

Translated from medieval Scottish, farl means, "the fourth part." In this version, quartered rounds of dark bread are sweetened with treacle, which is similar to molasses, and lightly spiced with ginger. The mixture may occasionally include a handful of raisins or other dried fruit, but the bread is always served sliced and buttered, with a cup of tea.

I line the buttered pans with buttered wax paper, then flour them, to make unmolding the cakes easy after baking.

Crisp, golden onion rings have never been so pretty or so simple to make.

Half of one of these loaves is enough for the croutons for the White Bean and Ham Hock Soup with Arugula.

This recipe originally accompanied <epi:recipe link="" id="100982">Confetti Salad with Ranch Dressing</epi:recipe>.

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

Here's a terrific light version of an American summer classic.

This recipe was developed by Houston pastry chef Carrie Hart with the assistance of Girl Scout Amanda Marlow.

Among favorite desserts of the decade were waffles, served with ice cream and syrup, as well as this easy cake's ancestor. The treat reached its maximum popularity with the increasing availability of canned pineapple and the marketing efforts of the Dole Company. Today's widely available fresh fruit-spiked with ginger, macadamia nuts and orange zest-gives a great result.

Buttermilk and blue cheese make this slaw rich and tangy.