Snack

Even if your crackers fail to puff, they'll still taste delicious. This recipe is an accompaniment for Scallop Chowder .

In Asian cooking, angled loofah is typically braised or served in soups, but it's also perfectly suited to pickling. Try to buy young loofah (no longer than 12 inches). Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr (plus 2 days for marinating)

Thanks to purchased frozen dough, this bread is a snap to make. Serve it with soups, salads and pastas.

Wisconsin cheddar stars in these flavorful and easy-to-make biscuits.

Soufflés are a British favorite. This recipe combines pieces of toffee in a creamy soufflé, with chocolate sauce on the side.

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

Chipotle chilies are the secret to this sassy cocktail sauce.

Call them galettes sucrees, mandelbrot, or biscotti — I love these Moroccan cookies, made by Rosette Toledano of Netanya, who, as her daughter says, "puts her heart in her cooking."

To help these filled tomatoes sit steadily on a serving tray, rest them on their stem ends after scooping out and filling the opposite, blossom, ends.

Canned butter beans called for here make an exceptionally creamy hummus.

Sardinia, Italy Diamond-shaped papassinas are especially good with a cup of coffee. The flavor of these cookies gets even better after a few days.

"The recipes here reflect my British roots, but not necessarily my family traditions," writes Mairi Morrison of London, England. "Although my mother is from Scotland and my father is from Northern Ireland, I grew up in Los Angeles, where our weeknight meals were typically American: spaghetti, tacos, and burgers. It wasn't until I moved to Europe that I became really interested in food. Here in London my social life is centered around the table. I really like this dish because it is typically British, and perfect for a rainy winter evening in London." Make these ahead if you like (they will keep for a week in the fridge) or make them on a whim, since the recipe is so easy. Lyle's Golden Syrup is a popular British sweetener with a flavor that's similar to mild honey.

Rosemary and peppercorns in the bouquet garni give an unexpected kick to this chilled dessert, which is elegant on its own or spooned over vanilla ice cream or yogurt.