Spreads

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

If you really want to make this pimento cheese the way my mother does, and you happen to own a hand-crank meat grinder, run the two cheeses once through the fine blade of the grinder into a mixing bowl. Mother simply used to grind the pimentos with the cheeses, but now she prefers to mash them with a heavy fork on a plate until they break up into tiny pieces. She uses homemade mayonnaise but also endorses Hellmann's (a.k.a. Best Foods).

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr In addition to being a great complement to the poached salmon, this mayonnaise is a good pair with shrimp, veal, or poached chicken breasts.

The fresh berries at the open-air markets of Nice inspired this simple recipe. The wide surface of a large skillet reduces the cooking time, which helps keep the fruit flavor at its peak.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Cranberries make a traditional breakfast spread festive and seasonal.

Serve on cold roast beef or with crudités.

You can start making these savory cookies up to three days ahead. Even easier: Serve the cheese roll with store-bought crackers. (We especially liked this roulade made with a spiced cranberry-apple chutney, but any thick chutney will work.)

This is one of the never-absent standard-bearers of the Greek meze table, a classic dish found from one corner of the country to the other, on almost every taverna and meze menu.

As with all jams and jellies, make a small batch as indicated here, so that it cooks well and thoroughly for the short time indicated, preserving the pure flavor of the berries.

A wonderful topping for crepes or for vanilla ice cream.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Perfect as a topper for steaks, burgers, pork chops, hot dogs and fries. For even more flavor, try brushing the tangy ketchup onto the meat during grilling. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Present this delightful tart-sweet spread in a glass jar that has been encircled with a ribbon. For a nice touch, tie a spoon into the bow. If you want to omit the canning process, go ahead. The preserves can be stored in the refrigerator up to one month.

"One night when friends were coming over for cocktails, I wanted to make some hors d'oeuvres," says Amy Sue Keck of San Diego, California. "Though most tapenades I've tasted have been made with black olives and anchovies, I only had green olives in my cabinet—and no anchovies! So I added some toasted almonds instead, and my green "tapenade" was a hit. I still make it this way."