Ham

This makes a delicious luncheon entrée with a salad.

Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish of fried pork. In this version, the meat is braised with vegetables and spices. For best results, use large, meaty ham hocks.

Be sure to have the butcher bone the veal chops. Serve this elegant main course with vegetables.

For a casual supper, broil rounds of prepared polenta roll, and toss romaine lettuce with oil and vinegar; end with cheesecake. For a special dinner, have broccoli spears with browned butter and orzo pilaf with Parmesan. Buy a hazelnut dacquoise or other fancy cake from the bakery for a great dessert.

This strata is ideal for Christmas morning — it is assembled a day ahead and baked just before serving. Mimosas are a nice addition to the menu.

These are called arancini (little oranges).

Most of the work on this dish is done the day before, leaving plenty of time in the morning for opening presents or simply sleeping in.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min

Why Madame? Because it has an egg, of course.

Joan Macht of Manistee, Michigan, writes: "My wedding shower was held at the Blue Slipper Bistro in Onekama, Michigan. For dinner I had the veal scaloppine saltimbocca, and now I want to make it for my new husband. Will you ask owner Cheryl Kissel for the recipe? The word saltimbocca in this classic Italian recipe means "jumps in your mouth," because of the great combination of flavors. The addition of herbes de Provence gives this version a bit of a French accent.

There will be a large amount of rendered goose fat left over from this gumbo. The French often use the fat to coat potatoes for roasting. Rendered goose fat keeps, covered and chilled, 3 months. Two 8-pound ducks can be substituted for goose if desired.

Can be prepared in 45 minute or less.

Good home-cured hams could be found in every colony, but those of Smithfield, Virginia, were considered among the finest, and their reputation remains stellar today. According to a 1926 law, genuine Smithfield hams must be cured, smoked and aged for a year within the Smithfield city limits. Madeira was a popular Colonial beverage — George Washington's favorite — although for a time it was boycotted because of British taxation.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve with potato chips, a heap of tangy coleslaw, and some sweet gherkins. Finish with strawberry ice cream and chocolate cookies. By the way, the filling for these quick sandwiches is delicious on toasted English muffins for breakfast.

Nice with chicken.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This Basque specialty consists of scrambled eggs garnished with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and a slice of ham. The same Basquaise garnish may be prepared in advance and used for chicken and fish. Chez Gladines serves its pipérade with patates sautées — potatoes pan-fried in duck fat and seasoned with garlic and parsley.

If you cannot get turkey breast already packed, buy a whole turkey and use the breasts for this dish and the thighs for Turkey Chili.