Starter

Using a pastry bag to pipe the hummus onto the pita toasts saved us a lot of time (and made for nice-looking hors d'oeuvres). You can make your own pastry bag with a heavy-duty plastic bag. Just spoon the hummus into the bag and squeeze it into one corner. Then snip off the corner to make a small hole and begin piping.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Pair this with frosty glasses of lager.

Pan-roasting the vegetables imparts an earthy sweetness to this dish.

A Dijon mustard vinaigrette brings all the flavors together. If you can't find basmati rice, white long-grain rice is fine.

"Last summer I attended an event at the Three Clock Inn in South Londonderry, Vermont. The chef prepared a lovely luncheon, and it included delicious crab cakes," Bill Brett of Bondville, Vermont. "When I went home, I came up with my own version." The crab cakes are loaded with fresh crabmeat and are accented by a tangy sauce.

Goat cheese and mint make for a special springtime version of bruschetta. Serve these on a platter as an appetizer, or offer them alongside the Radicchio Salad .

With months to go before the summer tomato season, we've found that slow-roasting brings out the flavor of winter plum tomatoes.

Savor raw oysters served with three spicy, slightly sweet, and fiery salsas.

Tiny whole squash are used in this pretty accompaniment, so it is especially easy to eat at a buffet.

These are excellent with beet soup.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

What the New Sammy's menu describes as a broth is really a purée. The dish is somewhat monochromatic, but its fascinating flavor spectrum will make your mouth extremely happy.

Martini fans will find that this simple and elegant appetizer goes perfectly with their favorite cocktail.