Cheese

Ragoût de petits L
égumes au Parmesan et Vinaigre Balsamique Also nice as a meatless entrée—with some crusty French bread, of course.

Cheesecake and Champagne are a great finale. Begin making the dessert a day ahead.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

You can make this up to three days ahead; be sure to start at least one day in advance.

You can use purchased sauce here, your own homemade or the versatile This is terrific over pasta.

Here's a versatile recipe that can be served as a first course, a side dish or even a meatless main course. For extra flavor, add sautéed mushrooms, diced salami, crumbled Gorgonzola cheese or sautéed strips of bell peppers to the topping before baking.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Corn tortillas and bottled salsa are great with the salad. For dessert, top purchased vanilla pudding with fresh blueberries and a touch of cinnamon.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. The importance of vine-ripened tomatoes goes without saying, but don't compromise with the bread, feta, or olive oil, either. This delicious sandwich deserves the best.

A radicchio and fennel salad with red wine vinaigrette adds color and crunch, and warm focaccia rounds out the entrée. End the meal with poached pears and biscotti.

This is easily one of my three favorite dishes in my mother's repertoire. She only started making it five years ago, and whenever I'm home I ask for it. It takes well to substitutions, so go ahead and experiment.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tofu has a custard-like texture and is available in soft, firm and extra-firm varieties; firm is preferable here. Serve these hearty burritos topped with purchased salsa and some plain nonfat yogurt.