Cheese

"My husband and I recently visited New York with some friends," says Helene M. Strassman of Gaithersburg, Maryland. "One evening, we had dinner at Babbo. The whole meal was fantastic, but the best part was the maple and mascarpone cheesecake. I asked our waiter for the recipe, but he politely refused. Maybe Bon Appétit could persuade pastry chef Gina DePalma to part with it." Be careful when boiling down the maple syrup for this recipe. It gets very hot, as a caramel syrup does. Use a heavy, large, deep saucepan because the syrup bubbles up high and vigorously when boiled. Let the syrup settle before measuring it.

Borekas -savory pastries made of phyllo dough- are part of the culinary heritage of Israeli Jews of Turkish and Bulgarian backgrounds. Falafel is the most popular street food in Israel, but borekas run a close second. This sophisticated version of the dish makes a delicious appetizer.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Since the tomatoes in the sauce are cooked just briefly, this dish is a breeze to make.

A classic duo adds an Italian accent to an American favorite.

These sandwiches would go well with the vegetable and bean chili.

My mom used to make this recipe for class bake sales when I was in elementary school, and it was always a huge hit with the other kids (and teachers). She uses mini-muffin tins for petite, cute, and delicious little cheesecakes.

Having relatives who live near Lansing, Illinois, gives Janice and Paul Abrinko a reason to visit that part of the country—and after trying the veal with Gorgonzola sauce and red cabbage at Cafe Borgia, they have one more reason to go.

To make these tarts two 13 1/2 x 4 x 1-inch tart pans with removable rims are ideal; however, you could also use one 11 x 1-inch round tart pan with a removable rim.

To round out the menu, offer a tossed green salad and uncork a Chianti to go with this delicious pasta dish. Sharpen your chopping and mincing skills with our technique video.

Braised pork shoulder, spicy Italian sausage, and pancetta enrich the tomato sauce. Dried crushed red pepper kicks up the heat.

Set out black beans, rice, lettuce, salsa and hot flour tortillas to go with the chicken.

At La Porteña, an Argentine restaurant in Jackson Heights, New York, spicy chorizo sausage is used to give this frittata-style omelet its heat. If you can't find chorizo, hot Italian sausage makes a nice substitute.