Walnut

Parsley and thyme replace the usual basil in this sauce. Try it on cooked vegetables.

Team the pancakes with sausages, and offer tea, coffee and fresh juices.

France's classic layered dessert of puff pastry, pastry cream and icing fell out of favor for a while, but it recently experienced a revival. This contemporary version features phyllo instead of puff pastry, an espresso-flavored pastry cream and bananas, which were used in many treats in 1997.

(NOCELLI) Walnuts star in several important specialties of the region of Liguria, including these easy-to-make cookies named after the Italian word for walnut, noce.

A composed salad that features all the bright and pretty colors of the season.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 hr

This recipe is an accompaniment for Maple Walnut Bûche de Nöel . Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 30 min

Smoked duck adds elegance to this salad. Smoked turkey would also work well.

The oatmeal and nut mixture in this dessert is usually baked on fruit; here, it is cooked on its own, then layered with currants and a pudding made with Baileys Original Irish Cream.

Linda Forst of Mukilteo, Washington, writes: "I attended a conference in Anaheim, California, and went to dinner at Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar in Downtown Disney. The whole meal was outstanding, especially the 'compressed salad.'" For a "compressed" presentation, the chef uses a three-inch ring mold to mound the salad in the center of each plate. You can use a cleaned-out can, with top and bottom removed, as a mold.

Susan Murphy of Kansas City, Missouri, writes: "My daughter and I love to spruce up boxed cake mixes with spices, nuts, or fruit. One afternoon we decided to experiment with banana muffin mix instead. We made a very moist cake, filled it with fresh banana slices, then topped it with creamy homemade frosting. It's one of our favorite creations to date."

When freshly baked, these appealing cookies are chewy, crisp, and tender all at the same time. If stored in an airtight container for a day, they are still delicious, only softer.

"Out of necessity, I've developed a love for quick cooking," writes Judy Wilkins of Tyler, Texas. "Between my musician's hours (nights and weekends as an accompanist for local choral groups) and teacher's hours (daytime piano lessons), my schedule can be nuts. When I do have the chance to cook dinner on a weeknight, whatever I make can't take too long — and it has to taste great."

Ice cream at its easiest: crystallized ginger is mixed into softened vanilla ice cream.

This dip is great with crudités or crackers, on sandwiches, or with cold meats. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 20 min