Tomato

Tony Kerum's deliciously satisfying version of Croatian moussaka — featuring potatoes in place of the more traditional eggplant — keeps film crews well fed.

Inspired by Big Night Set in New Jersey in the 1950s, this 1996 film revolves around the conflict between two immigrant brothers who decide to open a restaurant. Primo defends his purist Italian cooking to Secondo, his brother, who is more concerned with the bottom line. Frustrated with customers who want simple plates of spaghetti and meatballs, Primo prepares timpano, a complex, drum-shaped dish of pasta-filled pastry. We've taken the timpano and simplified it into a timballo, a molded casserole without a pastry crust. For added flair, arrange the ziti in a decorative pattern as you make the first layer of the timballo.

It's very important not to use all white meat in this recipe — dark meat, which is higher in fat, has far more flavor, so look for ground turkey with at least 7 percent fat.

Bhel poori is a savory puffed rice snack that's usually served with crackers (we like to eat it with a fork). The recipe for this one, which combines a surprising range of sweet, tart, and spicy flavors, was given to us by our art director Erika Oliveira's mother, who is Indian. The sev you buy should be thin but not very thin, or your bhel poori will be too mushy.

We love the flavor of Black Forest ham in this soup, but you can use any variety of ham, or even kielbasa, smoked turkey, or bacon. A dollop of sour cream rounds out the acidity of the tomatoes.

This tomato-based chowder tastes a bit like Creole jambalaya. Because the broth can be prepared one day ahead, the recipe is especially convenient for dinner parties.

Armandino Batali of Salumi in Seattle, writes: "My son, Mario Batali, may be the most recognizable foodie in the family, but the Batalis' interest in Italian cooking and culture goes back generations. My grandfather opened Seattle's first Italian-food import store in 1903. It was located just a few steps from where my restaurant, Salumi, is now, and it's one of the things that inspired me to get into the business. "The idea behind Salumi was to create a restaurant, deli, and meat factory in one place, just like the salumerias in Italy. We're known for homemade sausages and salami, but we also attract a large lunchtime crowd. Some of the specials, like the meat loaf and frittata, have been in our family for years. They're also easy to make at home." This Italian-inspired version is filled with sausage, mozzarella cheese, and basil.

Serve over couscous, if desired.

This recipe is an accompaniment for <edit:recipelink id="230642">Sausage-Wrapped Lamb Chops</edit:recipelink>. Also great tossed with grilled vegetables, stirred into pasta, or as a topping for grilled fish or a portabello burger.

Pipérade is a dish from the Basque region of France that features tomatoes and green peppers cooked in olive oil. Serve with: French country bread, and baby greens in a Sherry wine vinaigrette.

To pit an olive quickly, use the side of a large knife to crush the fruit, then pop out the pit. Serve with: Linguine tossed with olive oil and parsley and twirled into nests, roasted artichokes, and a crusty baguette.

Serve with: Sesame breadsticks, and arugula tossed in balsamic vinaigrette.

"On my days off from the restaurant, I cook for my wife at home. We tend to eat light, and I cook with foods that are in season since I've never been one for complicated dishes. It's just not my style. I'd rather have sliced tomatoes with a good olive oil or pasta with vegetables than something fussy." Broccoli rabe is also called rapini.

A spicy Thai take on a classic party dish.

This recipe is sponsored by Black Swan Vineyards

Try this one over ice, too.