Onion

In Morocco, the word tagine refers to any of the country's slowly simmered meat, chicken, fish or vegetable stews that often have both savory and sweet flavors. It also refers to the earthenware dish with a conical lid in which the stew is cooked and served. Couscous or bread is a typical accompaniment.

Top toast points with this for an appetizer, or serve it as an accompaniment to grilled lamb, fish or chicken.

Lots of fun: pizza with flavors reminiscent of the classic Reuben sandwich.

One of the best ways I know of serving a dish the second time around is to dress up the leftovers in tortillas, bake them in a spaghetti sauce, and top them with crunchy stuff. Even a picky kid might not recognize last night's dinner — if you're lucky. You can use the same fillings and toppings you would with tacos or try some others.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Crown of Shrimp with Truffle Sauce . Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

"Although I live in Athens," writes Yolanda Paterakis, "my connection to the islands is very strong — my husband, Andreas, is from Crete, and we have a vacation home on the Greek island of Euboea in the Aegean Sea. No matter where we are, we love to entertain our two children, our three grandchildren, and scores of friends. For these get-togethers, I always prepare quick, simple dishes because my busy schedule demands it; I write children's and travel books, and I'm the general secretary of the National Society of Greek Writers. I've often thought that cooking is like writing a story — always best when you put your heart into it." Rich and fragrant, this main course goes well with boiled potatoes or rice.

Serve with: Sourdough toast and a mixed green salad. Dessert: Oversize brownies.

Suzelle Kasaian writes: "Tahoe Joe's here in Fresno may be missing Lake Tahoe's mountain views, but the lodge-style restaurant has plenty of good food. I'd like to get the recipe for the mashed potatoes referred to on the menu as 'mountain mashers.'"

The inclusion of fennel and a dash of Pernod puts a sophisticated spin on the classic chilled potato soup. Offer your guests iced tea with the meal.

We serve this sauce with both the sugar snap pea tempura and the pork and jicama dumplings . If you make only one of these hors d'oeuvres, however, this recipe should be halved.

This pretty slaw with a celery seed and cider vinegar dressing is perfect for a Fourth of July picnic.

Arborio is a short-grain Italian rice that is one of four varieties typically used for risotto in Italy-the other three are Baldo, Carnaroli and Vialone Nano. Arborio can be found at Italian markets here, and is becoming increasingly available at supermarkets.

·Bear in mind you should only eat the flowering shoots of the garden pea, Pisum sativum. Don't try to cook with the flowering shoots of sweet peas from your flower garden — they're poisonous.

This combination of white beans, tomatoes, and cipolline is exceptionally delicious. Letting your tomatoes cook to the point where they become caramelized and start to fall apart adds sweetness and a layer of deep flavor to the dish. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 9 1/4 hr (includes soaking)

A creamy "comfort" soup that has plenty of richness without a lot of cream.