Root Vegetable

A simple recipe for an impressive main course. Serve the lamb with the Saffron Couscous and baby carrots. Pour a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pierogies are large dumplings filled with meat, cheese or vegetables, and they are very popular in Poland. A precooked version is available frozen in many supermarkets.

Cheese production increased in the nineteenth century when dairy cooperatives were formed in Minnesota and Wisconsin; now, that area of the country is known for making outstanding cheese. In this recipe, white cheddar goes into a rich and creamy potato gratin that is a great substitute for — or, at a particularly lavish feast, a fine accompaniment to — mashed potatoes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Two favorite spring salads get combined into one easy, lower-fat version.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Plain old mash potatoes just may be a thing of the past. Nowadays, everything from turnips to kohlrabi end up partnering Idaho's most famous crop; we team the russets with rutabagas and parsnips. While this homey and healthful side dish is a must with lamb shanks, it also goes well with any number of meat dishes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

I often serve grilled meats at my parties, and with them I like to serve this unusual relish. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

At the restaurant, the burritos are filled with smoked pork, but this version, using roasted pork, also works well.

Raita is a yogurt salad, and integral--and cooling--part of an Indian meal. It can be prepared with raw and/or cooked vegetables (we use both here) or with fruit.