Snack

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

A small slice of this delightfully dense chocolate cake goes a long way.

My mom (the "Jill" of this recipe) used to make lots of finger foods when I was younger. These were always a big hit. Easy to make, easy to love, these snacks are equally at home at a fancy dinner party as they are during the Super Bowl. You can experiment with this recipe to alter the taste: Use vegetable or flavored cream cheese, or any other kind of easily spreadable cheese (I like that Alouette herb cheese a lot).

Don't think of toasted pumpkin seeds merely as a topping for the Risotto with Tuscan Kale — they also make a terrific hors d'oeuvre or snack.<

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 10 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Besides serving these crunchy pumpkin seeds in our chili and chopped salad, we love to make up a batch to keep on hand as a snack.

"Before we got married, my husband, Gregg, and I were working at a small restaurant, and it kept us ridiculously busy," writes Anita L. S. Eberhardt of Beverly, Massachusetts. "Now that we have both left the restaurant business, we have a much saner schedule, although raising two kids certainly keeps us busy. My experience as a professional cook makes it easier for me to throw together a quick meal, which is good because I'm not a convenience-food mom: I try to limit fat and salt, emphasize fruits and vegetables, and use a minimum of prepared foods."

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

Sweet Butter Pastries This recipe is based on the version of the Breton classic found in Anne Willan's L'Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne. The butter-rich dough gives a result akin to Danish pastry but more rustic.

Begin making these frozen treats at least one day before serving.