Leafy Greens
Spinach Parmesan Custard with Frico
Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr (not including frico)
Test your springform pan with water for leakage before getting started. If it leaks, tightly wrap the bottom and halfway up the side of the pan with two layers of foil before filling it.
Sweet-and-Sour Radicchio
The radicchio is seasoned in the style of a Sicilian agrodolce ("acid-sweet") dish, which typically combines a vegetable with raisins, pine nuts, vinegar, and a sweetener.
Melon, Arugula, and Serrano Ham with Smoked Paprika Dressing
The smoked paprika in this recipe adds depth. Unlike Hungarian paprika powder, which is prepared by drying the chiles in the sun, the Spanish smoked version (like La Chinata brand) is prepared by roasting the peppers over smoldering oak fires before being ground to a velvety powder.
Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min
Mixed Greens with Bacon and Herbs
With bacon and lots of fresh herbs, this salad has a delicious balance of flavors. A warm baguette and a good Cabernet round out the menu.
Red Cabbage and Onions
This recipe is an accompaniment for Pan-Seared Salmon over Red Cabbage and Onions with Merlot Gastrique.
Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min
Pickled Beet and Endive Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts
By Charlie Trotter
Porcini Mushroom and Barley Soup with Pancetta
This hearty soup is served at Belvedere Mansion in Staatsburg, New York.
Wild-Mushroom and Potato Stew
This Boston-area restaurant is dedicated to using locally grown organic produce.
Javanese Roasted Salmon and Wilted Spinach
"Although I'm not usually a big fan of fish, I love the roasted salmon at the Saucebox here in Portland," writes Irin Haruchai of Portland, Oregon. "The sauce served with it is out of this world."
Spicy sauces with sweet-and-sour flavors are popular in Javanese food and, in this case, pair deliciously with salmon.
Joe's Special
The people who count such things say that scrambles now outrank all other egg preparations in America's affections. This San Francisco creation â claimed by almost every Joe who's owned a restaurant in the Bay area â helps to explain the popularity. With the addition of ingredients as basic but as unlikely as ground beef and spinach, the namesake cook (probably Italian-American) turned straightforward scrambled eggs into a distinctive treasure of tastes. For a full sense of place, serve the eggs with good sourdough toast.
By Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison
Roast Beef Sandwiches with Lemon-Basil Mayonnaise and Roasted Red Onions
These delicious sandwiches are from the Corner Bakery Cafe in Chicago.
Enlightened Traditional Coleslaw
A "skinny" version that features nonfat yogurt and light mayonnaise in the dressing. Lemon peel and celery seeds add zip. Try with grilled steak, chicken, or salmon.
Grilled Fajita Salad
Shake up some Margaritas (limeade for the kids) and slather grilled corn on the cob with cumin-seasoned butter. For dessert, top fudge brownies with coffee ice cream and KahlĂșa.
Grilled Pear Salad with Bacon, Roquefort and Port Vinaigrette
"One evening my husband took me to a marvelous restaurant, Al Biernat's, in nearby Dallas," says Janice E. Bryant of Irving, Texas."I had an innovative saladâgreens tossed with grilled pear slices, walnuts, blue cheese and a terrific vinaigrette."
Apple, Dried Cherry, and Walnut Salad with Maple Dressing
"While visiting my sister in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, we had a delightful dinner at the Mountain Town Station Brewing Company and Steakhouse," writes Marge Frazier of Houston, Texas. "The salad with greens, fruits, and nuts was amazing. Plus it had a creamy maple dressing that was delicious."