Gourmet

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

These steaks would be great served with the Endive Salad . Tip steak is from the round, which is a tougher muscle and has less marbling than other cuts of beef. It should be cooked rare to medium-rare for maximum flavor and juiciness.

"This was a Christmas teatime favorite when I cooked at castles in Scotland years ago," says Doon Fergusson-Howlett of Dublin, Ireland."My sister serves these as petits fours, and they are always highly praised."

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

At Mirabelle, chef Reuge serves the paillards, in this case thin slices of strip steak, on a bed of red cabbage braised in red wine and garnishes the dish with fresh herbs.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

If you can't find fresh porcini mushrooms, buy whole frozen ones, defrost them in the fridge, and drain them on paper towels. Then roast them, uncovered, until tender and golden brown (and for about half the time as the fresh ones). As a last resort, other exotic fresh mushrooms mixed with reconstituted dried porcini would provide the body and flavor the dish needs. (Avoid dried porcini that are broken up.) Pair this dish with a few risotto cakes to make a main course.

This dish, which pairs the sunny flavors of Provence with the comfort of mashed potatoes, makes a nice accompaniment to grilled meat, poultry, or fish.

These mushrooms make a wonderful side dish for just about anything.

(Chick-Pea Dip with Parsley and Pine Nuts)

Paired with homemade salsa, these old-fashioned fried green tomatoes get a nineties update.

Traditional cinnamon buns are made with yeast, but our biscuit-dough buns are faster to make and just as delicious.