Garlic

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Adding fresh seasonings to a prepared salad dressing gives great flavor to the marinade for this easy and attractive dish.

In this menu, guests make their own sandwiches, piling on rosy slices of spring lamb, chopped grilled green onions and a variety of condiments. Uncork a red Rhône wine (we recommend Gigondas) or a Pinot Noir to pour with the sandwiches; have a selection of sodas and bottled water on hand, too.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Freeze some of this sauce now and treat yourself to a burst of summer one cold, wintry day.

As accompaniments to this great-tasting main course, serve the Risotto-Style Barley with Spring Greens, and pour glasses of chilled Pinot Grigio.

The mix of flavors in this side dish is great with broiled lamb chops or roast chicken.

Also serve puréed winter squash and fettuccine tossed with sage and butter. For dessert, put out chilled grapes and a platter of anise biscotti with sweetened mascarpone cheese.

The test kitchen used wonton wrappers instead of homemade pasta to simplify this.

If you wanted to entertain in the '60s, a fondue pot was de rigueur, presenting a casual alternative to the formal dinners of earlier eras. Some of us still have the dregs of that original bottle of kirsch in the back of the liquor cabinet. This is fortunate because, with the current and unprecedented cheese renaissance in this country, it's time to unearth that old fondue pot and light up the Sterno.

This is the "he-man" of mojos, and the classic combination of lime, garlic, and oregano is a must for grilled red meats. Try it with flank steaks, T-bones, sirloin steaks, or lamb.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr Mashed potatoes are the ideal accompaniment to this dish.