5 Ingredients or Fewer

We roasted a whole head of garlic for this recipe even though it's more than you need — the leftover cloves are such a versatile thing to have on hand. Use them in a puréed soup, rubbed on bread, mixed with green vegetables or a salad dressing, or mashed with mayonnaise. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Two favorite fall fruits turn up in an interesting, herb-scented side dish.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 hr

At Aux Truffes, the poached pears are brushed with a sabayon-like mixture and then broiled. This version is much simpler to prepare and just as pretty and delicious.

I was first tempted to serve these with a dollop of crème fraîche, or vanilla ice cream, but I resisted because I didn't want to dilute their flavor, and I was right to do so, for the balance of flavors is perfect. Muscovado sugar is a very dark, usually organic, unrefined sugar from Madagascar. If you can't find it, simply use dark brown sugar.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Shrimp with Orange Dust . Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 45 min

You can top the spinach parmesean custard with some broken-up frico for added crunch or simply enjoy them on the side. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 30 min

This tart is so deliciously rich, it can stand alone as a luncheon main course. A crisp green salad and a glass of nicely chilled white wine would complete a most satisfactory meal.

"We lived in New York for several months, long enough to learn to love the creamy polenta at Union Square Cafe," says Ross and Karen Martin of Pasadena, California. "If you can't get their recipe, we might need to fly across the country to have the dish again." This polenta gets its richness from being cooked in a milk-cream mixture instead of the usual water or broth.

Here's a rich, creamy classic with a tropical twist. Begin preparing it a day ahead.

Bacon drippings add extra flavor to the dressing. Crumble some Gorgonzola cheese over the finished salad for even more punch. Serve with: Tomato soup with a dash of Tabasco and corn bread squares. Dessert: Brownies topped with coffee ice cream.

Toasted onion bagels are great with this.

Braised Broccoli This dish is to Christmas Eve dinner in Amalfi what apple pie is to July Fourth in middle America: an absolute necessity. The Amalfitani choose a leafy, lighter colored broccoli from Campania for this dish; the closest substitute in this country is broccoli rabe; choose a bunch with as many leaves as possible.

This is used in four of the dishes in the menu; the recipe makes enough for them all.