Roast

Verjus is a tart grape juice made from unripe wine grapes. Milder than vinegar, it can be used in salad dressings without competing with an accompanying wine the way vinegar does. Look for it at specialty foods stores or online at chefshop.com and terrasonoma.com. What to drink: Pour an Oregon Pinot Noir with the salad and the Herbed Lamb Chops with Pinot Noir Sauce.

Green wheat was originally the Middle East's answer to a dwindling winter wheat supply; immature wheat was set ablaze to roast it and ready it for eating.

Since lima and fava beans have a shorter growing season than most local tomatoes, we've given frozen edamame, available year-round, as an alternative to make this recipe more versatile.

An inventive new take on a classic fall side. What to drink: A fruity red with a nice acidity. Try: Keenan 2002 Merlot, Carneros, Napa ($25).

Serve this hearty meal with mustard, a side of mashed potatoes, and ice-cold dark German beer.

Serve this aromatic chicken with a side of Yellow Rice.

When cutting the pockets for the stuffing, make them as large as possible on the inside without enlarging the 3-inch-long incision on the outside.

For extra color, use different kinds of plums, such as bright red-fleshed Elephant Hearts, yellow Shiro plums, and pluots. (Avoid using Santa Rosas, which don't retain their shape when cooked.)

Think of this flavorful medley as an antipasto pasta. Add sides like tomato bruschetta and a romaine-radicchio salad for a fantastic summer supper. What to drink: A bold Sangiovese or Rioja.

What to drink: Pinot Noir or dry rosé.

This recipe serves 4 as a main course if you set aside 2 chicken breasts for another meal. Otherwise, it serves 6.

Tony Matranga of Los Angeles, California, writes: "When I started cooking, the process was a mystery to me. I would try to re-create other people's dishes but couldn't get them quite right. After working in an Italian bakery and several restaurants, and observing chefs, I began piecing together recipes and finally came up with some great results of my own." These versatile tomatoes can also be used in pasta sauce, on pizzas, or as part of an antipasto platter.

Because the vinegar is simply drizzled over the radicchio at the end, try to find an artisan-quality balsamic, such as one labeled condimento, if not a premium balsamico tradizionale. Radicchio is also good when grilled on a barbecue or in a stovetop grill pan. Oil the grill or grill pan and cook until wilted and slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes.

Anatra Ripiena This is virtuoso trattoria cooking; not modest, certainly, but authentic. What to drink: A reserve Chianti. Try: Fontodi Chianti Riserva.