Cheese

Serve with: Grilled herbed potato slices and a salad of mixed baby greens and chopped beefsteak tomatoes, dressed with a red-wine vinaigrette. Dessert: Purchased plum tart with whipped crème fraîche.

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.

This salty-sweet dish is inspired by Cretan dishes and is a great appetizer.

This sprightly first course is a cinch to put together.

A lovely twist on the traditional pear and blue cheese pairing. Tender lamb's lettuce and toasted walnuts provide great contrasting textures. Use a vegetable peeler to make thin shavings of Parmesan.

These are also a lovely brunch dish. Buying prepared crepes (available in the produce section of some supermarkets) can save time.

Bright red berries and a sour cream topping make this luscious cheesecake a Christmas favorite at the Old Manor Estate & Hotel on Nevis. Begin preparing the dessert a day before you plan to serve it.

We've given a twist to the traditional Greek salad, then tucked it into toasted pita bread to come up with a tasty lunchtime treat.

Originally this dish consisted of topfenpalatschinken (Hungarian cheese crêpes) baked in a rich custard. This variation skips the time-consuming process of making blintzes. Double the recipe and bake in a 13-by-9-inch baking pan.

These cheese sticks are a spin on the beloved southern spread "pimento cheese." Made from shredded Cheddar, mayonnaise, and chopped pimento peppers from a jar, it's used on everything from sandwiches to crackers and celery to burgers.

Consider this delicious dish as a vegetarian main course, too.

Whole eggs, angel food cake, light cream cheese and light sour cream bring the calorie count of this Italian dessert way down.

Serve as an entrée with salad and wine, or as a side dish with steak, ham or roast beef.