Starter

Try this as part of a barbecue buffet.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Cabrales Cheese Soufflés.

The pink-peppercorn garnish gives this chilled soup a pretty spring look.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Accompany this light main course with Buttery Rice Timbales.

Simmering cobs in the corn-broth mixture gives the soup extra flavor.

Gratins feature a crust of melted cheese and sometimes breadcrumbs. Serve with good bread and a salad for lunch or a light dinner.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

These mini tostadas make terrific appetizers. The topping is seasoned with cumin, serrano chili and cilantro.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The bright green of the fried asparagus with the yellow egg sauce and the orange salmon roe topping makes a colorful display.

"Dinner at J. Alexander’s in nearby Troy is a treat my family enjoys regularly, and there’s one thing we always order: the chicken soup. says Katie Randlett of Wixom, Michigan."Although it sounds ordinary, this version definitely isn’t — it has a rich, creamy texture, and it’s full of goodies like pasta, sugar snap peas and carrots." Sugar snap peas add crunch to this comforting soup. The restaurant uses penne pasta, but macaroni would also work well.

The crust of this tart is tender and quite crumbly.

Garlic bread is perfect on the side. You can find Creole or Cajun seasoning in the spice section of most supermarkets.

A mix of butternut and acorn squash makes this soup silky and flavorful. Keep it bubbling on the stove to warm up any roaming ghosts and goblins as they return home from their Halloween rounds.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This pâté is neither easy nor inexpensive, but when you are looking for a tour de force, it is a gorgeous thing. If you feel the urge to simplify, omit the topping, but frankly, the pâté won't be quite as impressive without it, and you also won't have the exquisite contrast of the parsley and the crunchy almonds.