Meal Prep

If you've never tried roasted cauliflower before, this dish will be a revelation.

Freeze some of this sauce now and treat yourself to a burst of summer one cold, wintry day.

"When I was staying at the Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto," writes Constance M. Shertzer of Indiana, Pennsylvania, "I discovered a fabulous restaurant there called Hemispheres Restaurant and Bistro. The pasta with mushrooms and tomato sauce was as good as any I've ever had in Italy."

Ras-El-Hanout This vibrant spice blend makes an excellent addition to lamb burgers or roasted chicken. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place.

As a working mother with four daughters, my mom had very little spare time, yet she always managed to turn out meals reminiscent of her native Canton, China. This dish, one of her specialties, takes its name from the moist, velvety texture the chicken gets from being poached at a low temperature. My mother loved the short preparation time (the chicken finishes cooking through heat retained in a covered pot) and that the poaching liquid can be strained and then chilled or frozen to be used again. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

A butter and molasses glaze gives this delicately flavored loaf a glossy finish, which makes for a beautiful presentation at the table.

(Provençal Anchovy Vegetable Spread) Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe originally accompanied Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. When buying fresh coconuts, look for ones without mold (check the eyes) or cracks. Choose coconuts that are heavy for their size—a sign that they contain plenty of liquid, which keeps the flesh from drying out. The thin, clear liquid, or "coconut water," can be used in soups or for cooking rice. You can also drink it as is. If it tastes sweet, the coconut is fresh; if it tastes oily, the coconut is rancid and should be discarded.

A tablespoon of sugar may be added to the batter for sweet crêpes, but with more they tend to scorch.

This Middle Eastern spice mixture is so delicious we suggest doubling the recipe and using the extra for a snack: Dunk some bread (such as pita) in flavorful olive oil and then in the za'atar. Or sprinkle za'atar over plain yogurt and drizzle with olive oil, and you've got a terrific dip.

A homemade version of vanilla extract.

If you have a gas grill and want great smoky flavor, soak hickory-wood chips in water one hour. Drain well; place chips in a disposable aluminum pie pan directly over flames (or over lava rocks if they are part of the grill's design). Allow chips to begin smoking, then grill vegetables until tender. This recipe is an accompaniment for Spicy Barbecued Rib-Eye Steaks with Smoked Vegetable Salsa .

Though the cranberries look gorgeous, you wouldn't want to eat them—they're extremely tart when raw. The mint leaves, however, are positively delicious. Fresh raw cranberries yielded the most attractive garnish; thawed frozen berries may collapse and shrivel. Feel free to increase the amounts we've provided here if you'd like to make your decoration more elaborate.