Casserole

I'm not sure if it was the casserole I disliked or the repetition of eating it many times in one week. By the third night, the whole family complained, to which my mother, Ruth, responded in amazement, "But it's from the James Beard cookbook!" To me, at 12 years old, that only meant I didn't like James Beard, whoever he was. — Nancy Hawley

Fresh rosemary enhances this terrific side dish from Il Radicchio in Washington, D.C.

Braised pork shoulder, spicy Italian sausage, and pancetta enrich the tomato sauce. Dried crushed red pepper kicks up the heat.

A rich and elegant special-occasion dish.

Haricots verts (small, thin French green beans) would also be nice as a side dish, but regular green beans would be fine, too.

A nice stuffing for poultry or an excellent accompaniment to pork tenderloin or salmon.

Loaded with vegetables and topped with Parmesan cheese, this will satisfy the biggest hunger on the coldest winter night.

Potato gratin is, of course, the traditional side dish with roast beef, and this version is just right for a special occasion. Adding flavor are typical steak house ingredients, like mushrooms, garlic and herbs. Place a baking sheet in the oven on the rack below the gratin to catch any liquids that may bubble over.

For an easy and informal dinner, make a salad and some rice to go alongside this bubbling cheese mixture known as queso fundido. Each diner spoons some of the cheese into warm tortillas. This can also be served as an appetizer at parties. Mix up some Margaritas to add to the fun.

The pile of raw fresh chard may look daunting, but don't worry: It cooks down to about two cups. As a meatless main course, the casserole will serve six.

You don't have to be in the kitchen at the crack of dawn to prepare a terrific breakfast. In this recipe the French toast is soaked overnight like bread pudding — in the morning all you need to do is add the topping and pop it in the oven. Serve it with coffee, juice, and fresh fruit and you've got a well-rounded way to start the day.

A wonderful brunch dish. You will need to begin preparing it a day before serving.