Cured Meat

Omelettes Bauveuses aux Lardons
This omelet is meant to be runny (baveuse) in the middle.

Sarah T. Thibault of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, "I had the best black bean soup at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. In fact, I had it for lunch every day during our stay. Could you please get the recipe? The soup's incredible!" This is a brothy black bean soup with whole beans, unlike many thicker, heavier versions that are puréed. Serve it over rice if you're in the mood for a heartier main course.

Boston brown bread is in the canned-vegetable aisle of most supermarkets.

You'll need metal turkey-lacing pins (sold at supermarkets) to secure the roulade. Because they grow up to be portobellos, crimini are sometimes labled baby bellas. They are often sold in 6-to 8-ounce containers.

Use fresh oysters if you can; note that the recipe also tested well using oysters packed in jars. If the oysters are very large, cut them in half.

Pearl-like sushi rice cooks up slightly moist and sticky, so it forms a cake easily. Chilling the cakes before browning helps them hold their shape.

Toasted crushed coriander seeds add great flavor and fragrance to the dressing. Green Anjou or Comice pears would also work well here, but the red Anjou's rich maroon skin looks beautiful next to the lettuce.

Plum wine is transformed into a sweet but tangy glaze for the duck. At the restaurant, house-made gnocchi is used in this delicious dish. Purchased butternut squash or mushroom ravioli is our easy alternative, and you can save another step by asking the butcher to cut up the ducks for you.

Richard Montoya of Dallas, Texas, writes: "I've lived in Dallas for 20 years and I've noticed that the city's restaurants just keep getting better and better. One of my favorites is Jasper's in nearby Plano. When I take friends there, I always recommend the pork tenderloin." At Jasper's, the pork is served with bourbon creamed corn and a twice-baked potato.

This main-course soup showcases some of summer's best flavors. Serve with: Flaky biscuits, and a baby spinach salad with roasted red peppers.

Serve with: Sesame breadsticks, and arugula tossed in balsamic vinaigrette.

A lovely first-course salad. Pears contribute sweetness to the dish; the Italian bacon called pancetta adds a nice salty crunch.

A perfect accompaniment for cocktails. Most of the prep work here can be done ahead.

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches with Parmesan Cream Sauce and Bacon

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.