Garlic

Tomato and Bread Soup

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but may require additional sitting time.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is one of my mother's recipes and call me biased, but it's the best around. This is a vegetarian black bean soup, and one of the keys to its success is the quality of the olive oil: use the very best you can find. You can make the soup a day in advance and it will taste even better the next day. This is a no-fail recipe that I know you're going to enjoy.

If you're planning to use the leftovers to make the fried rice with pork and kale , reserve 3/4 cup of this sautéed kale.

The best way to eat sugar snap peas is right off the vine. This recipe ranks a close second, though. I pickle any sugar snap peas that the kids don't eat right away, and continue to enjoy them for weeks after the pea vines have wilted away.

It wouldn't be Christmas without some red and green on the table.

The roast can be prepped one day ahead. What to drink: A robust, medium- to full-bodied red, such as an Italian Barbera. Susan Simon also recommends a Carlo Hauner 1998 Rosso Antonello (made with Sangiovese and Nero d'Avolo grapes); it's produced on the Italian island of Salina.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. We created this sauce for fish, but it also makes a terrific accompaniment to lamb.

Mashed potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser at holiday meals. But if you want to mix things up a bit this year, try one of our delicious variations, below.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Make this with vegetable broth for a meatless main course.

Tina Thompson of Orlando, Florida, writes: "Because entertaining is a great joy for me, many of my dishes are party-friendly and easy to prepare. It's not uncommon to find me hosting impromptu gatherings for friends during the workweek so that I can try out new creations. As my recipe box grows, so do my fond memories." A nice addition to the holiday table. Serve with soup or salad, or even with drinks as an hors d'oeuvre.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

On a recent trip to California, Susan Livingston of Marblehead, MA had a caramelized garlic and onion bisque at the Edna Valley Bistro in San Luis Obispo. It was so unique and outstanding that she made a point of complimenting the chef, Herbert Norton. Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

Potatoes roasted with olive oil and chopped fresh rosemary are a nice accompaniment. What to drink: Poggio del Sasso.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 35 min