Snack

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Honey flavors both the syrup and the filling in these delicate pastries. In the Middle East they are usually stuffed with nuts or cheese. Mozzarella is included in this version, which may seem unusual in a sweet filling, but it prevents the ricotta from becoming runny. The pine nuts are like little eggs resting in their nests.

Edamame are fun to eat, the slightly fuzzy bright-green pods tickle your lips as you gently suck the beans into your mouth. Provide bowls for the empty pods.

Camembert aux Noix Amuse-Bouches Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 50 min

Ellen Schwab, Bethesda, Md.
"I created this cookie, which combines my two favorite flavors — hazelnut and chocolate — just for this contest."

Steve Silverman of South Burlington, Vermont, writes: "In my cooking I tend to be very quick and health-conscious. During the summer, my wife, Mary, and I usually grill chicken or fish and make salads. I'll use whatever fresh vegetables and ingredients I have on hand and come up with a wonderful meal for the two of us." Serve this party appetizer with the toasted-baguette rounds or your favorite crackers. You can also double the tomato topping for a great pasta salad.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Herring is an essential part of Scandinavian cuisine and always has a place in the breakfast smorgasbord, along with other kinds of salted and pickled fish, breads, pastries, cheeses, cereals, eggs, and potatoes. (We admit that herring for breakfast may seem a little unusual to some people. But try it on a thick slice of buttered rye—you'll be quickly converted.) Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

To give these cookies a pretty curved shape, drape them over a wooden dowel or the handle of a wooden spoon immediately after removing them from the cookie sheet.

Supermarket staples — puff pastry and fruit jams — are transformed into delicate teatime treats that require very little effort.