Simmer

The crisp Rosemary Toasts taste great dunked into this flavorful soup. To serve on the side, toss arugula with sliced red onions and basalmic vinaigrette, then top the salad with shavings of Parmesan cheese. For dessert, keep it simple with ripe pears and amaretti (almond cookies).

Begin with melon slices and prosciutto; alongside the soup, serve baguette slices with a garlic and herb cheese spread, then offer macaroons and apricots afterward.

Pass extra salsa at the table.

(PASTA ALLA NORMA) Because the small Italian eggplants generally used in this dish can be hard to find in this country, we have substituted Asian eggplants.

Using canned black beans makes this soup a snap to prepare. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Using such a tender cut of beef reduces the stew's cooking time.

Reflecting the cuisines of Israel and the surrounding Mediterranean Middle Eastern countries, this meatless stew is seasoned with mint and lemon. Serve it with sesame seed rolls and a tomato and cucumber salad; have pistachio ice cream for dessert.

This recipe was created to accompany Crown Roast of Lamb . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Canned black beans with Caribbean seasoning save lots of time and effort. Whisk ground allspice into some bottled oil-and-vinegar dressing, and toss with mixed greens. Garnish the soup with yogurt and chopped red onions, and serve it with some sweet potato chips. To end, spoon sliced bananas and dark rum over coffee ice cream.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 hr (includes cooling)