Orange

"My wife, Jean, and I run a coffee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii," writes George Fike of Keauhou Mauka, Hawaii. "I really love to cook, so we entertain a lot, and I enjoy planning the dinners as much as I do making them. I tell people the best restaurant in town is our house! Since I do most of the cooking, recipes must either be relatively fast or look after themselves." Based on George's mother's recipe, this is an easy, moist, and tender carrot cake with delicate tropical flavors and macadamia nuts. There are a lot of ingredients, but they come together in just minutes.

This is a simplified version of Havana Harry's recipe; at the restaurant, they deep-fry the pork after braising it.

Regular oranges work just as well, but they won't impart the same fiery sunset color.

Serve with: Baby red potatoes (tossed in olive oil and roasted alongside the hen) and buttered green beans. Dessert: A Key lime pie from the bakery.

The oil-free dressing is delightfully tangy.

A fresh and colorful accompaniment to simply poached salmon.

Pink grapefruit can be used if you can't find the blood oranges.

Keep these cookies in airtight containers.

My long-time friend, colleague, and fellow Southerner, Jean Anderson, relates in her wonderful American Century Cookbook how her mother came up with this delightful variation on old-fashioned sticky buns as a way to avoid having to fool with yeast dough. Contrary to what the long list of ingredients might imply, the biscuits are quick and easy and perfect for a stylish brunch.

Spread on a roast pork or turkey sandwich, or use as a dip for grilled shrimp or as a dressing for a fruit salad.

While this cake tastes delicious on its own, enhance it with dollops of whipped cream or nondairy topping and a few orange segments.

The gravy is a refined, delicious sauce in this duo from Barbara Shinn and David Page, co-owners of Home restaurant in New York and co-authors of Recipes from Home.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Coffee-Cardamom Flans with Orange Crème Fraîche.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.