Oven Bake

This tart is delicious on its own, but the garnish of crisp raw beet shreds brings added intrigue. To slice paper-thin spirals of beet, we used a Japanese rotary device known as the Benriner spiral vegetable slicer. This gadget is available from Katagiri, tel. (212) 755-3566, and from Williams-Sonoma, tel. (800) 541-2233 (ask for the "spiral shredder").

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A satisfying meatless main course.

To debeard the mussels, just pull off the hairlike bits coming out of the shell.

(Sliced Potato Cake)

The juices from the clams combine with spicy Asian flavors to make a great pasta sauce.

A sophisticated presentation that is ideal for a holiday feast.

This pie uses pizza toppings as a filling. Serve it with a tossed green salad.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

To create a meal around these sweet and pungent ribs, just add fresh corn on the cob and a salad of watercress, red onion and orange slices.

There's horseradish in the cream sauce and, for good measure, some more in the buttery crumb crust.

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.