Corn

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

In the early days of California cooking, savory puddings were often served, a reflection of the fact that eggs and dairy have historically been mainstays of the state's agriculture. That was a legacy from the mission padres who, in addition to growing field crops such as corn and beans, usually kept cows and chickens to help feed their communities. In Northern California, Dungeness crab season begins around the first of November. The crab lends rich taste and nice texture to the first-course pudding.

Here's a bright and refreshing salad. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A hearty soup that's very low in fat.

Use alphabets or little stars, orzo, or tiny circles. Or use a combination of them all. The child in your life will love this, and so will the child in you.

You will need three pots for this recipe.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Corn tortillas and bottled salsa are great with the salad. For dessert, top purchased vanilla pudding with fresh blueberries and a touch of cinnamon.

The heartland is known for its grains and its pork; this first course features two of the region's best products—corn and bacon.

Time: About 30 minutes Level: Beginner This is the thin version of the Rhode Island staple that some still eat as an accompaniment to breakfast, lunch and dinner. These are wonderful plain with salt right off the griddle but can be gussied up however you like, although many Rhode Islanders cringe at the thought of a maple syrup glaze. Recipe Synopsis: Mix the batter and fry on a well-greased griddle.

Mary Risley, director of Tante Marie's cooking school, says, "I dreamed up this recipe years ago when I was trying to cook Thanksgiving dinner on a four-burner stove with only one oven. And I've found that this is really the only vegetable needed to go with the turkey and mashed potatoes. It has the creamed onions everyone wants, it has the corn the Pilgrims must have eaten, and it has the fresh vegetables my Northern California friends and family have come to expect."

The poblano chilies can be prepared one day ahead, and the vegetables can be chopped and sliced one day ahead and then refrigerated separately in resealable plastic bags. Then the whole dish just requires a few minutes of cooking time before serving.

If you prep all the ingredients ahead of time, this dish takes only minutes to cook.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr