Roast

If you’re in the mood for an Asian-inspired meal, serve this fish with the pickled cucumber and cabbage.

Trimming the artichokes for this recipe takes a bit of skill but gets easier with each one. Once you have mastered the technique, you'll find this dish is actually quite simple. Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Garlic mashed potatoes and green beans sprinkled with toasted almonds are perfect with this dish.

This rich, subtly spicy gravy recalls the great Mexican sauce known as mole poblano. The puréed ancho chilies on which the gravy is based are often described as having a chocolatey quality; that is reinforced here with the addition of a small amount of unsweetened chocolate.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This duck recipe is unusually light and delicate.

Ken Hom likes to dry his duck the traditional way: He hangs it in front of a fan at cool room temperature for 1 day. In keeping with U.S. food-safety standards, we've adapted his technique for the refrigerator, with excellent results. The Pekin (Long Island) duck available in the U.S. has a thicker layer of fat than the French variety, but we were still able to roast away most of the fat layer, leaving mahogany-colored crisp skin. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 3 1/2 days

Remove the skin from the game hens before roasting them to make this delicious main course lower in fat. Uncork a bottle of Chardonnay, and offer steamed yellow and green zucchini alongside.

Can be prepare in 45 minutes or less.

Components of this salad can be prepared one day ahead, then tossed together at the last minute. Offer white wine spritzers and iced tea with lunch. Colorful ornamental kale can be found at some supermarkets and specialty foods stores.

(BEEF AND SAUSAGE ROLL WITH PROSCIUTTO, PROVOLONE, SPINACH AND EGGS) At one time very little meat was eaten in this region. When it was, humbler cuts were transformed by long cooking into delicious stews or combined with other ingredients to make meatballs or a meat roll such as this one. It is good hot, at room temperature or even cold. Leftovers are great in sandwiches. Serve with the Mixed Salad and some bread.

An impressive centerpiece dish. This looks beautiful when surrounded with sautéed baby vegetables. Start marinating the meat one day ahead. Serve homemade or purchased horseradish alongside.