American

This springtime dish would go nicely with sliced red and yellow tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette; offer corn muffins, too. End the dinner with wedges of chocolate mousse cake.

For this recipe you will need a large marble slab or other heatproof work surface (about 20 by 20 inches) and a bench knife-a rectangular metal blade used for cutting and lifting doughs (do not use a plastic pastry scraper). Bench knives are available in cookware shops. The candies can be individually wrapped in wax paper or candy wrappers.

Partner this sandwich with a bean and rice salad and some crunchy pickles. End with vanilla pudding and fresh pineapple. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Ground turkey is a fine substitute for the chicken.

The malt flavor of Guinness stout marries well with the sugar and milk in this distinctive ice cream--inspired by a recipe from the files of the American Homebrewers Association--and the faintly bitter aftertaste cuts the sweetness.

For the spider web that decorates this cake, melted semisweet chocolate chips work best. Don't be tempted to substitute another type of chocolate.

This stunning sweet from Spago Beverly Hills can be assembled ahead of time, then baked at the last minute. Note that the dessert needs to be frozen at various points, so plan accordingly. When preparing the meringue disks, use a six-ounce tuna fish can as a template.

Thin and delicate, these chocolate chip cookies are spiced with ginger.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.