Sour Cream

These can be made one day ahead, then drizzled with the vinaigrette just before serving.

For a Fourth of July theme, top these bluish purple potatoes with salmon or red lumpfish roe. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 35 min

Active time: 1 3/4 hr Start to finish: 2 3/4 hr (includes making pastry shell)

Adding sour cream to the filling richens the custard and makes it a bit less sweet, allowing the flavor of the pumpkin to come through in this dessert. Any extra pie dough can be cut into pumpkin shapes for a festive garnish on top.

At breakfast time, the hash is topped with poached eggs; on the bistro menu, it is served with crème fraîche.

The preserves keep these moist and tender.

Prepare this one day ahead to allow the flavors to blend. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Begin preparing the cheesecake one day before you plan to serve it.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The low-fat mushroom ragout can also be served over toast points or as a side dish.

In Italy, the panna cotta (molded cooked-cream dessert) at each restaurant was different: Some included hazelnuts; some were made with eggs and some without. Taking a few liberties of our own - most notably adding sour cream - we created the following superb rendition.

(Russian Potato-and-Cabbage Turnovers)

(Spicy Chicken Crêpes)

Brian Polcyn of the Five Lakes Grill in Milford, Michigan, has updated this Mexican favorite by oven-roasting the stuffed chilies rather than coating them with batter and frying them. The chilies are presented on a bed of rich-tasting caramelized onions.