Brunch

These pretty rolls are baked side by side in cake pans. To serve, turn the rolls out of the pans, and let your guests pull them apart.

Mocha custards are the "coffee" part of this whimsical "coffee and doughnuts" dessert.

Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 2 hr

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

Most of the Christian Mediterranean cultures have some form of rich, festive egg bread that they prepare for the Holy Week before Easter. This is when pinze were made at our house. It is a tradition that is still strong in the Veneto region of Italy. The panettone and colomba cakes often found in the country today are derivatives of pinza. Making good pinza requires some understanding of leavening and bread making, which I have carefully described below. It also requires patience, because the dough, rich with eggs and butter, requires several long risings. Serve slices of pinza with espresso, tea, or, in the morning, with caffè latte. For a richer dessert, top with whipped cream or mascarpone and berries, or enjoy it as is on a wonderful festive table or for brunch on Easter Sunday. The loaves keep well for one week at room temperature if sealed in plastic wrap for six to eight weeks in the freezer. For the effort, it pays to make a larger quantity and enjoy for weeks after.

Whether at home or on vacation, pancakes are a family affair at Debra's house every Saturday morning, and banana is her children's favorite kind. But don't limit yourself: blueberries, strawberries, and nectarines all taste equally delicious. Try lightly toasting the pecans for a decidedly adult flavor, or substitute chopped walnuts.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Once the ingredients have been combined for this dish, use immediately. Serve the potato pancakes while crisp. These pancakes were developed at Dublin's Gresham Hotel and were featured on the "Bird Flanagan" bar menu. The "Bird" Flanagan was a celebrated Dublin character who once rode his horse into the lobby bar of Dublin's famous Gresham Hotel and requested a drink for his horse.

This light, spicy soup is delicious hot or chilled. The sautéed aromatics turn the broth a rich red-orange, more reminiscent of tomato than watermelon. See if your guests can guess the main ingredient. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 hr (3 hr if serving chilled)

For best results, use Bosc pears: They hold their shape well when baked. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

My mom ate a lot of things — frogs' legs, escargots, sweetbreads — that horrified me as a child, but I took to caviar right away. She didn't use the good stuff, but even made with supermarket roe, this dish makes an elegant impression. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min (includes making pancakes)

(OMELETTE AUX ASPERGES)

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"Since I moved from the West Coast to Santa Fe, I've been baking more quick breads because my recipes for yeast doughs just aren't the same without the sea air." Joan Nugent of Sante Fe, New Mexico. "A leftover can of coconut milk inspired this recipe for muffins. To guarantee that I always have something interesting for breakfast, I prepare extras and freeze them."

This do-ahead brunch dish makes excellent use of leftover bread. Add a layer of salsa and Monterey Jack cheese for a Southwest flair; or replace the sausage and sun-dried tomatoes with some sautéed onions and Gruyère cheese for a French twist.