Gourmet

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 50 min

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The broth that accumulates at the bottom of this casserole is delicious spooned over the vegetables. Robiola, a fresh, rindless cheese from Italy's Piedmont, has a tangy richness that makes the dish particularly distinctive.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"While visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico, we dined at La Casa Sena restaurant and had a mesclun salad with an unusual balsamic-vinegar dressing," says Billie Ingram of Fairfax, Virginia. "Could you please get the recipe for us?" Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

All-American apple pie cannot be ascribed to any single region of the United States, of course. But this straightforward pie--no raisins, no spirits, no creamy accompaniments--is a heartland basic.

"My husband and I have a favorite local restaurant, Paci," says Michelle Jaffee of Fairchild, Connecticut. "Its menu changes seasonally and is always exciting. However, it just may be Paci's phenomenal coconut cake that has made us regulars. The pastry chef tells us that the recipe is a closely guarded secret. If you could persuade the restaurant to part with the recipe, I'm sure my family — and your readers — would be most grateful." At Paci, the chef serves this dessert with a chocolate espresso sauce. But we loved the buttery cake topped with fresh fruit — try nectarines or mangoes. It's perfect for summertime. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr (includes cooling)

This dough produces a crisp cookie with oats for added texture.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

This recipe was created to accompany Chicken with Mustard Seed Crust and Couscous. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

We used an empty 1/2-gallon cardboard milk carton as a mold for this cake to keep the checkerboard pattern even.

Plank cooking is a Native American technique that imparts a subtle smoky flavor to fish, meat, poultry, and vegetables. It is recommended to use a plank of untreated Western red cedar made specifically for cooking purposes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.