Bon Appétit

A common ingredient in Irish baked goods, buttermilk is put to a deliciously different use here in an innovative dessert from Lacken House in Kilkenny, Ireland. The garnish of fried and sugared herb sprigs is a distinctive accent.

Gnocchi aux Blettes According to some sources, gnocchi are a Niçois invention, and the use of Swiss chard in the dough is a traditional addition. In fact, Swiss chard is ubiquitous in Provençal cooking. This recipe is from L'Escalinada, where the gnocchi are served with a fresh tomato-herb sauce. Make your own sauce, or look for a good-quality one at the market.

This type of dish is common in England, where all desserts are called puddings.

A bit more elegant than the average crisp, these pretty single-serving desserts are still quick to prepare.

Here's a delicious recipe from chef Edwin Goto at The Lodge at Koele on the island of Lanai in Hawaii. In an homage to spring, the rich-tasting risotto is served on a bed of oven-roasted asparagus.

(BRANZINO ARROSTO CON SALSA DI ASPARAGI) Salmon, flounder or snapper fillets can also be used for this attractive, colorful entrée.

If you have cooked lamb, beef, or turkey on hand, use it instead of the chicken.

This version of the much maligned Christmas classic is deliciously lacking in candied cherries, giant mixed nuts and citron, but it is filled with bits of marzipan and lots of appealing dried fruit. Baking the cakes in disposable aluminum loaf pans (available at supermarkets) or in decorative cardboard loaf pans (available at some cookware stores or by mail order) makes gift giving easy; just wrap each cake in its pan in cellophane, and add a colorful ribbon.

Christina has been making these super-easy brownies since she was a teenager.

Open a bottle of fruity Chardonnay to serve with this enlightened take on a classic.

A baked potato, peas and sorbet are all you need with this entrée, but for a party, dress up the pork with cranberry relish, couscous studded with diced bell peppers and green beans, and a rich almond tart.

In our test kitchen, Philadelphia-brand cream cheese gave us good results. This frosting would also be delicious on carrot cake or gingerbread.

Since just about any combination of fruits will work for the topping, this recipe can be used all year long.

Offer some crusty bread with this lovely main-course salad.

Reinforce the southwestern theme with accompaniments like corn bread and a spinach salad with grapefruit segments and toasted pine nuts. For dessert, stir some cinnamon into sweetened whipped cream to dress up slices of chocolate pound cake. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Suitable accompaniments to this risotto-like dish are crusty bread, an avocado and orange salad with a cilantro vinaigrette and, to top it off, coconut pie.