Simmer

Classic choucroute garnie combines sauerkraut, potatoes, and a variety of meats. Here, chunks of smoked sausage are cooked with sauerkraut and flavored with caraway. On the side, have boiled red-skinned potatoes tossed with parsley and a spinach salad. End with purchased apple strudel.

This dessert, called sciummette ("little sponges") in Liguria, is the Italian version of the French oeufs à la neige. One look at these fluffy ovals of meringue will tell you where the name comes from.

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

This dish combines aroma and flavor in a unique fashion: Bowls of steaming rosemary vapor accompany the luxurious main course. The piney fragrance of fresh rosemary adds another dimension to the taste experience.

Serve these festive birds with roasted broccoli (as easy as steamed) and a wild rice pilaf with sliced green onions. Finish with caramel ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and chopped walnuts.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Antoinette Muto of Los Angeles, California, writes: "My business partner and I own a company that makes costumes for the film industry. When we are involved in a huge project — as we were with Minority Report and X2 — we work very long days, and sometimes even on weekends. So I don't have much time to cook or even to go out for lunch or dinner. That's when my no-fiddling cooking style comes in handy. I cut corners when I can — without sacrificing flavor. I prepare all-vegetarian meals, using the freshest ingredients from the farmers' market, and I really get a kick out of seeing people come over to my house and not miss the meat one bit."

Start with pear slices wrapped in prosciutto; offer a radicchio and fennel salad and breadsticks alongside the pasta, and rich tiramisè to end the meal.

Just a few ingredients are all it takes to prepare a wonderful side dish that's great for any time of the year.

A lovely summer dish. Be sure to make the oil several hours ahead.

Tangerine juice adds an intriguing note to the velvety sauce. Look for the largest possible tangerines to make squeezing easier.

This lobster salad is wonderful on its own—but piled onto a hot dog bun it becomes a perfect lobster roll.

Purchased roast chicken and frozen corn kernels simplify the preparation. Serve the chowder first, then a variety of grilled sausages with the mixed-greens salad and corn bread alongside. Kids will likely prefer the Pastry-Wrapped Sausages over plain grilled ones.

We recommend using a sturdy food mill (available at cookware stores) to help produce a thick stew base from simmered vegetables and fish. Alternatively, you can use a large heavy-duty mesh sieve to strain the seafood broth. Then push through enough fish and vegetables to make 13 cups of stew base. Serve cioppino with sourdough toasts.

Piquant and full of spices, this chutney is an unexpected, pleasantly bright condiment for scrambled eggs. Active time: 45 minutes Start to finish: 1 week (includes allowing flavors to develop)