Leafy Greens

This inventive salad is a terrific addition to any summer buffet. For this party, also prepare red cabbage coleslaw, or buy some at the market or a take-out spot.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Japanese connoisseurs of the noodle hold soba, made primarily of buckwheat flour, in particularly high regard. Here the nutty taste of the soba noodles is set off by a restorative broth in which miso is a savory option. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Cider was one of the most popular drinks in Colonial America, and each year some of the pressing was turned into vinegar. A tart-sweet cider vinaigrette dresses this light and lovely green salad, which includes thin slices of crisp apple.

This dip is especially attractive served in a hollowed-out head of Castelfranco radicchio, a white radicchio with loose, pink-streaked leaves that readily open to form a bowl.

Tahini, a creamy sesame seed paste, adds a new twist to the dressing for the salad.

What to drink: A crisp Pinot Grigio.

Partially freezing the tenderloin after searing it makes slicing easier.

Choose a medium-sized head of cabbage and remove the tough outer leaves. It is important to slice the cabbage very thinly. The dressing will break down the harsh texture and soften the slaw.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The following hors d'oeuvre, a variation on the BLT, can be put together quickly if the ingredients are prepared a few hours ahead and assembled just before serving. Finely diced mozzarella would be a nice addition to the salad filling. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

An open-face knife-and-fork sandwich.

The broth that accumulates at the bottom of this casserole is delicious spooned over the vegetables. Robiola, a fresh, rindless cheese from Italy's Piedmont, has a tangy richness that makes the dish particularly distinctive.

This is a great salad to make when you have leftover grilled salmon.