Leafy Greens

Barley gives this a wonderful chewy texture.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Partnered with a green salad, these little sandwiches are terrific with the flavorful barley soup .

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Although this dressing is rich in flavor, it has a surprisingly light and silky texture, which keeps it from weighing down the fragile lettuce.

Just add steamed rice for a complete family-style Chinese dinner.

Supermarkets, as well as butcher shops, sell a variety of chicken sausage — just use your favorite.

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.

For an elegant dinner, just add a salad of Bibb lettuce and Belgian endive with walnut-oil vinaigrette, and pass a basket of warm French bread. A purchased apple tart makes a lovely finale.

The aioli is quickly made by mixing garlic and tarragon into purchased mayonnaise.

Serve with: Grilled portobello mushrooms and a rice salad with sliced radishes. Dessert: Scoops of coconut, pineapple, and passion-fruit sorbets drizzled with rum.

Thyme really shines in this soup; sautéed apples are an interesting sweet garnish.