Roast

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Here's a versatile recipe that works well as an appetizer or a side dish.

Robust ingredients and an elegant presentation: This dish captures all the romance of winter fireside dining. Break out a bottle of good Chianti to pour with supper.

Jason Gareffa of Los Angeles, California, writes: "Pursuing a career in acting keeps me tremendously busy. Between my improv comedy classes, performances, auditions for film and television roles, and gigs as a DJ for weddings, I don't have a lot of extra time on my hands. But good food is important to me, especially since I need a lot of energy to stay on the go. So over the years, I've started experimenting in the kitchen. Now the other members of my improv group even like to come to my 'wrap parties' to taste my creations." Serve basmati rice (or regular white rice) on the side to complement the Indian flavors.

"On a visit to Key West, Florida, I had a superb dinner at Camille's Restaurant," writes Patrick Wessels of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "I was especially impressed by the creamy Gorgonzola cheese sauce they served over roast pork tenderloin."

Great with grilled chicken or meats, or as an addition to hamburgers and other sandwiches. If available, use Vidalia or Maui onions for this delicious condiment.

Use baby beets or the smallest you can find.

Roast chicken or smoked turkey can step in for the pork, or meat can be omitted entirely for a great side dish. The roasting can be done all at once or in stages. This dish can also be served hot.

We're partial to just about any kind of roasted potatoes, but this recipe made a particularly big impression on us. The anchovies and lemon give the potatoes a genuinely distinctive flavor. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 35 min

To form the noodle cakes, measure them out by taking a few strands of noodles and loosely squiggling them into a tablespoon. Once you get the hang of the amount needed, you can pretty much eyeball it.

This is a nice appetizer; serve it with toasted pita wedges or Italian bread.

At her restaurant, Lynch includes black truffle in the vinaigrette for this salad, but it's so flavorful as it is that we didn't feel the truffle was necessary.