American

Serve this over the Baked White Polenta with Two Cheeses, and season with any — or all — of the suggested toppings (chocolate adds mole flavor).

Arrange in boxes lined with waxed paper. Try simple take-out cartons tied up with raffia and decorated with small pinecones.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 5 hr

Kids love this version of pigs in blankets.

Make these individual desserts a day ahead.

Hangtown Fry This omelet hails from Hangtown, a town northeast of Sacramento that was named for the notorious hangings once held there (it's now called Placerville). The dish seems to have come into existence during the Gold Rush, as the high-priced breakfast of a lucky miner, and later became a specialty at San Francisco's Tadich Grill. It is traditionally served with bacon.

Complete this one with cherry tomatoes, potato chips, and lemonade.

We found this recipe in Austin Leslie's cookbook. It is from his mother, Ruby — she was Aunt Helen's sister and assisted her at Chez Helene and its predecessor, Howard's Eatery. Although Leslie served the bread pudding with a rum hard sauce, we prefer it with a dollop of crème fraîche.

Buttermilk and blue cheese make this slaw rich and tangy.

Celery and jicama sticks with ranch dip and sweet-potato chips are good with this downright delicious sandwich. Finish with squares of crumb cake and chocolate milk.

Maude Emhoff, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Watch the heat carefully, lowering it as necessary. Do not let the casserole boil, or the pork ribs will toughen.

A gift from Native American cooks, hominy is dried, hulled corn kernels. Sold rehydrated in cans, it also makes a great addition to soups, stews, and casseroles.

While our directions call for lighting the grill with a charcoal chimney, feel free to use whatever method you prefer.

David Ross of Minneapolis, Minnesota, writes: "The bread pudding with banana sauce served at Galatoire's, in New Orleans, is superb. I'd love to get the recipe. It would be a boon to lovers of bread pudding everywhere." Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr