Gourmet

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 hr

It’s what the french call pain perdu, or "lost bread"—a dish that was created to revive day-old or stale baguettes. Here, hot and sweet, baked to a golden crisp, and dripping with syrup, you’ll find not a single thing is missing. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

Canadian bacon is a good option for breakfast meat, as it has less fat than regular bacon or sausage. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This simple sauce is also good with kitchen staples such as spaghetti and penne. This recipe was created to accompany Swiss Chard Ravioli with Quick Tomato Sauce.

"Moist and pretty in color when blackberry, currant, or some such jam was used, [jam cake] was a favorite with pioneer women, for it kept well," James Beard wrote in his American Cookery (Little Brown, 1972). The only thing more that might be said about jam cake is that it is delicious.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Spiced Roast Chicken and Vegetables)

To make the very thin layers for this torte, the batter is spread on inverted cake pans. It is important that the batter be spread evenly and that the layers not be overbaked. (Do not use dark metal or non-stick pans.)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.