Starter

These delicious "puddings" are a cross between a popover and a puffy pancake.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

On a recent trip to California, Susan Livingston of Marblehead, MA had a caramelized garlic and onion bisque at the Edna Valley Bistro in San Luis Obispo. It was so unique and outstanding that she made a point of complimenting the chef, Herbert Norton. Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

For this recipe, it's worth the effort to look for purslane at your local farmers market or specialty produce store. The salad green's fleshy texture and subtle citrus notes work well with the gentle flavors of Meyer lemon and makrut lime leaves.

Here's an all-new tuna-noodle casserole; just add a salad of arugula and sliced oranges. Dessert might be big spice cookies sandwiched with vanilla ice cream.

Black olives absorb the flavor of red wine and fennel in this warm appetizer.

This is also terrific with yellow tomatoes. Garnish with thin cucumber slices and some chopped red onion, if desired.

This sophisticated appetizer from Aqua in San Francisco is nice for a special occasion.

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

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 45 min

Serve this soup with a sandwich or a salad for a delicious lunch or light supper.

"When autumn comes to Chicago, I love going to Lucca's to enjoy a big bowl of pumpkin soup while sitting outside on the patio ," writes Tom Cove of Chicago, Illinois. "Can you get this terrific recipe?" A medley of exotic spices plus coconut milk and banana add complexity and rich flavor.

At Las Ventanas this soup and a corn soup are ladled side by side into the serving bowl.

We can thank Vic Bergeron — owner of Trader Vic's restaurant, in San Francisco — for bringing rumaki into mainstream dining culture. He claimed that this delicious hors d'oeuvre came from Hawaii, with Chinese roots and a Japanese name. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

The polenta can be made a day ahead and reheated in the oven.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 30 min