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Sugar snap peas, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions, parsley and mint combine with orzo pasta for a lovely warm-weather salad.

We took an old favorite and reserved the usual proportions of spinach and mushrooms to create Mushroom Spinach Salad With Tarragon Egg Dressing. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Accompany the chowder with saltines or Crown Pilot crackers. A side of steamed broccoli with lemon dressing is also nice, as are individual pecan pies á la mode for dessert.

The recipe calls for one cup of cream, but the soup tastes equally delicious without it.

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.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This delicate dish is also a nice first course.

If you like, sauté some wild mushrooms and stir them into the finished risotto. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

In the West Indies, salads are rarely leafy; rather they are often based on avocado and onion. We added hearts of palm for an additional tropical touch. Can be prepared in less that 45 minutes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Offered at A Pacific Cafe, in Kapaa, on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.

A new twist on the usual bean dip.

Serve these with a salad and some sausage for a hearty main course.