European

(Sorbetto al Melone)

An all-purpose red sauce that's ideal for pasta and meatballs, lasagna, cannelloni, etc.

(PALOMBO CON PESTO TRAPANESE) Here shark and pesto are teamed up in a great entrée. Offer it with the excellent dry white wine, Nozze d'Oro from Regaleali, the star of the Sicilian wine industry.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

This cake was first made in the north of England by young women for their fiancés. It's usually just layered with whipped cream and strawberries, but in this recipe the cake is spread with a berry and rhubarb compote for extra moistness. If your guests don't eat all of this, serve it with tea the next day.

Cava, Spain's sparkling wine, is readily available at supermarkets and liquor stores.

This dessert, prominent in the window of virtually every Paris pastry shop, is a true classic. The puff pastry rounds are usually filled with an almond mixture, but my version features hazelnuts and chocolate. Purchased pastry makes it approachable for the modern cook. Since it reheats nicely, the Pithiviers can be made ahead.

Greeks call this fassolakia Iadera. It's a traditional vegetable mixture that is often eaten cold, accompanied by hunks of country bread and feta cheese.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A nice hors d'oeuvre teaming fresh vegetables with a simplified version of rouille, the spicy red pepper and garlic sauce that typically accompanies French fish soups.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This Italian version of fruitcake is dense, chewy and candy-like. Wrap it in brightly colored cellophane for giving.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.