Herbs & Spices

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 hr

It will take about 45 minutes to peel the pearl onions for this recipe. If you're strapped for time, you can substitute 1 1/2 pounds of thawed frozen pearl onions, which won't need to be blanched.

The combination of anise seed and basil in the following recipe may seem unusual, but it enhances the faint licorice flavor in basil.

Start this romantic supper with Russian caviar and ice-cold lemon vodka. The main course is a simplified but impressive interpretation of the Russian fish pie known as kulebiaka, which the French call coulibiac. Offer Champagne with the entrée, and finish the meal with babas au rhum from a French bakery to complete the cross-European elegance.

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

A high-protein dish loaded with flavor. Purchased sorbet makes a nice dessert.

Although pure maple syrup is a tried-and-true accompaniment to waffles, we've come up with something a little different for the following recipe. Here you'll find a choice of a savory topping as well as a sweet one.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This spice rub is also great with chicken. Team the steaks with a salad of boiled green beans and quartered radishes, and offer some favorite beer.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

For a particularly light and crunchy coating we used panko (coarse Japanese bread crumbs) on these crab cakes rather than regular bread crumbs. Panko is increasingly available in this country, not only in Asian markets but also in seafood shops.