Alcohol

A western twist on the old-fashioned pecan pie . California walnuts, dates and brandy give this pie its candy-bar flavor.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. If you have Arborio rice on hand, use it in place of long-grained rice.

The low-fat mushroom ragout can also be served over toast points or as a side dish.

An impressive but easy dessert that's like a custard with fruit baked in it. In the summertime, make it with fresh peaches or plums instead of the pears.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The olives used in this traditional recipe are fresh, black, uncured, ripe olives, but wrinkled, salt- cured black olives will do just as well. If you do have ripe black olives from an olive tree in your backyard, drop a handful in rapidly boiling water for about 20 minutes, then drain and use in the reicpe. This is often served with soft polenta.

Many dessert menus include a colorful sorbet plate-light and refreshing after a rich meal. Offer elegant cookies alongside. For the pink grapefruit sorbet recipe, we prefer Essencia, a dessert wine with the unique flavor of orange muscat grapes. It's made by Quady Vineyards in central California. If you cannot find it, use a Sauternes or a late-harvest Riesling.

Roast goose with apples, a specialty of Alsace, has become a classic Hanukkah dish in Paris. This recipe comes from Didier Lewkowicz, a butcher in the old Jewish quarter of Paris. Serve a French red Bordeaux with the goose.

Forget gefilte fish and try this instead: a version of a French classic called carpe à la juive. (It calls for salmon trout instead of carp.) The fish (opposite) is chilled overnight, so begin the recipe a day ahead. Pour a Riesling.

Ciabatta is a wonderfully chewy classic Italian bread that is being rediscovered by specialty bakers around the country. Look for a rather wide, flat, flour-dusted bread, whether shaped into rolls or loaves. The rolls we used were 4- to 5-inch rectangles, but one or two ciabatta loaves would work equally well. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is terrific brushed onto grilled chicken or ribs, or spread onto brisket or barbecued-pork sandwiches.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This dessert is easy to make on a cleaned rack after grilling a main course.

This is also a great vegetarian entrée.