Starter

A low-fat version of the Mexican soup.

Beer makes for a particularly crisp batter here, and the capers add piquancy. The broccoli and carrots work well in this recipe, but cooks might use other favorite vegetables too, adjusting the deep-frying time as necessary.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Corn Tortillas with Sweet-and-Savory Ground Pork)

The early Yankees often cooked local shellfish in milk-based chowders with potatoes. True to their English heritage, the colonists planted kitchen gardens with as many herbs as they could cultivate, which they put into all kinds of dishes, including chowders.

"One night when friends were coming over for cocktails, I wanted to make some hors d'oeuvres," says Amy Sue Keck of San Diego, California. "Though most tapenades I've tasted have been made with black olives and anchovies, I only had green olives in my cabinet—and no anchovies! So I added some toasted almonds instead, and my green "tapenade" was a hit. I still make it this way."

The dinner menu at the Terrace Dining Room in Phoenix includes this elegant selection. Orechiette, which means "little ears," is a small, round pasta that resembles-little ears.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.but requires additional unattended time. In the following recipe, the lettuce leaves may be wrapped loosely in paper towels and kept chilled in a plastic bag until you are ready to assemble the cones.

Grilling husked corn on the cob produces nicely browned and sweetly caramelized kernels that are absolutely addictive. The garlic butter is a terrific finishing touch.

Stuffed pastas such as ravioli are simple to make, but it is important to keep the dough soft enough to be worked easily. Always roll out and fill 1 sheet of dough at a time, keeping the remaining dough wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

A soothing soup for any time of year.

These can be served as hors d'oeuvres, or placed atop a salad of spinach, walnuts and sliced apples.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Although traditional Italian polenta is simmered for nearly an hour, resulting in a very creamy consistency, for the following recipe we preferred the more rustic texture of this quickly cooked version.