Broil

A decadent, impressive dessert that appeals to everyone's inner Boy Scout or Girl Scout. Begin preparing this dish a day ahead.

Judy Rodgers is currently working on a cookbook from her Zuni Café in San Francisco. Grilling the mushrooms for this salad (which will appear in the new book) intensifies their flavor. Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 35 min

A relatively new item in the produce section, broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. It has a milder, sweeter taste than broccoli. Buy German potato salad, and braise red cabbage to serve warm with the open-face sandwiches. Gingerbread and chunky applesauce make a perfect finale.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

In Indian cooking, tikka refers to chunks of meat cooked on skewers.

This lively salad is from Jorge Navarro, the chef-owner of Café Navarro, a cozy, Caribbean-style spot in Eugene, Oregon.

Using a pastry bag to pipe the hummus onto the pita toasts saved us a lot of time (and made for nice-looking hors d'oeuvres). You can make your own pastry bag with a heavy-duty plastic bag. Just spoon the hummus into the bag and squeeze it into one corner. Then snip off the corner to make a small hole and begin piping.

Fresh Ricotta, Anchovy, and Oregano Toasts Crostini refers to a whole family of antipasti based on thin slices of bread, toasted, sometimes brushed with olive oil, and covered with any number of savory toppings. If you can, buy fresh anchovies and marinate them yourself or buy them already marinated from an Italian or Hispanic deli (where they are known as alici marinati or boquerones respectively; see note below).

You can use leftover roast chicken too.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is another Italian version of steak, popular with those who like the flavor of tomatoes.

This recipe is used to prepare Cod Cannelloni with Swiss Chard and Roasted Peppers . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A fitting way to celebrate the arrival of plum season. Figs, peaches, and hulled strawberries can also be broiled in this manner.

Crush the anise seeds with the side of a large heavy knife. Broiling the honey-coated plum makes it caramelized and tender. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 10 min