Pasta

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A great way to make a different and light meal with leftover lamb.

One piece of gemelli consists of two strands of pasta-both about an inch long-twisted around each other to resemble a braid. These noodles are great for catching the juices in this garlicky entrée. If you can't find gemelli, use fusilli; it will work just as well.

Couscous - Middle Eastern pasta - can be found in the international or specialty foods sections of most supermarkets.

Harira Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 12 1/2 hr

Look for dried wild mushrooms at most supermarkets; they lend a wonderful richness to this dish, which is great with garlic bread. Begin with a colorful salad of escarole and roasted red bell peppers, and finish with a winter fruit salad of sliced bananas and kiwi, fresh pineapple chunks and red grapes.

Offer this healthful Moroccan grain dish as a main course or as an accompaniment to roasted chicken.

Stir some chopped fresh mint into yogurt for a cool topping on sliced tomato and cucumber salad, with warm pita bread alongside. Pistachio ice cream on sweetened orange segments is perfect afterward.

Offer a salad of snow peas and sliced radishes in a ginger vinaigrette. End with oranges and almond cookies. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This parsley-based pesto is a nice alternative to the classic basil one--and it's especially handy for December, when there might not be fresh basil at the market. The recipe yields about 1 1/3 cups of sauce.

If you have leftover cooked chicken or turkey on hand, use it instead of the shrimp.

The term panéed means "panfried" in the New Orleans culinary lexicon. This recipe is from that city's Gabrielle Restaurant.

(Greek Lamb and Pasta Casserole)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Not all good meat sauces have to simmer for hours. The sauce for this recipe can be made in less than 45 minutes.

Pretty and delicious, this pasta has plenty of vegetables, lots of snap and crunch, and a terrific Asian-style peanut sauce.

A sophisticated main course.