Bon Appétit

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This southern-style main course is especially good with steamed green beans, some old-fashioned potato salad, sliced tomatoes and buttermilk biscuits. End with lemon sherbet and sugar cookies.

Tart, raw cranberries and horseradish add plenty of zip here. Begin preparing this at least a day before serving.

A simple, zestful relish that makes a quick and delicious hors d'oeuvre when served on toasted sourdough bread rounds. It's also nice for giving a flavor boost to roast chicken or fish.

Thyme adds a holiday touch to these light, buttery biscuits.

An elegant salad that would add a sophisticated touch to any Thanksgiving menu.

Terrific with turkey or any other roasted meats you might serve throughout the year.

Lemon peel also enlivens this terrific dish.

Plenty of black pepper is what makes this simple chicken dish so good. It's also terrific cooked on a grill. Pour your favorite Chianti.

Jason Gareffa of Los Angeles, California, writes: "Pursuing a career in acting keeps me tremendously busy. Between my improv comedy classes, performances, auditions for film and television roles, and gigs as a DJ for weddings, I don't have a lot of extra time on my hands. But good food is important to me, especially since I need a lot of energy to stay on the go. So over the years, I've started experimenting in the kitchen. Now the other members of my improv group even like to come to my 'wrap parties' to taste my creations."

Just right for an elegant meal.

You can use any type of good-quality olive in this spicy dish, but an assortment of black and green olives looks particularly nice.

Here are potatoes with Italian flavor.

Root vegetables were often used to lend sweetness to eighteenth-century cakes and puddings. The carrot cake layers in this recipe are sandwiched with marmalade and iced with a cream cheese frosting.

A salad of baby greens and citrus is a nice accompaniment, and so is rice pilaf studded with chives. Spoon sugared sliced strawberries over scoops of strawberry sorbet for a happy ending. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.