Oven Bake

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(with Caramelized Onions and Gorgonzola Cheese)

Serve with: Tartar sauce, potatoes au gratin, and a spinach salad with cider vinaigrette. Dessert: Chocolate pudding.

This recipe was inspired by Laurie Colwin's tomato pie — which ran in the August 1992 issue of gourmet; James Beard has a similar recipe that we also love in American Cookery. Paired with a green salad, it's a great warm-weather lunch. The very thin biscuit crust sets it apart from the usual (pastry-crust) pies. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 2 hr (includes cooling)

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 2 3/4 hr

Easy and delicious. Sautéed breadcrumbs top a mixture of spinach, cheese, and sour cream.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Rajas is the Spanish word for "strips," and in the Mexican kitchen it generally refers to strips of chile. Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 hr