Snack

A delicious, healthful breakfast treat.

These cheese sticks are a spin on the beloved southern spread "pimento cheese." Made from shredded Cheddar, mayonnaise, and chopped pimento peppers from a jar, it's used on everything from sandwiches to crackers and celery to burgers.

Seasonal fruits star in a lovely rustic dessert.

Serve this home-style treat with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Potatoes are the typical main ingredient in this classic garlicky Greek spread. The use of white beans in their place-plus the addition of tahini along with lots of fresh mint and parsley-transforms the easy appetizer into a whole new treat.

Puntarelle (a Catalonian chicory) with anchovy dressing is a classic Roman dish. We have substituted celery for the puntarelle because the latter is not widely available in this country*. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr

This is the first published recipe for Girl Scout cookies. It was printed in July, 1922.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tidbits to serve with before-dinner drinks.

In this clever dish from chef Michel Richard at Citronelle in Washington, D.C., fried sea scallops coated with fine strands of phyllo pastry resemble porcupines.

This starter is an easy version of the fried cheese dish, saganaki, which is traditionally paired with a glass of ouzo. It's great with freshly grilled pita bread.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.