Soup

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

For a simple dinner, present this flavorful soup with some warm crusty bread and a mixed green salad.

A platter of thickly sliced tomatoes topped with buttermilk-herb dressing and chopped hard-boiled eggs is a colorful partner for the soup. For dessert, have some fresh berries with whipped cream. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Swirl a little cream decoratively into each bowl of soup for an elegant presentation.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The lovely color and tangy taste of this starter make it a real crowd pleaser. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

In classic Chinese cooking, noodles destined for soup are cooked separately and added at the last minute so that the starch from the pasta doesn't cloud the broth. Because we were aiming for a rib-sticking dish, we broke with tradition and cooked the noodles right in the stock, allowing the starch to thicken the soup slightly.

Here is a light and festive way to introduce a holiday meal. This elegant soup goes very well with Champagne.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

We adapted this recipe from one by Terrance Brennan, the chef-owner of Picholine restaurant in New York. He tops the soup with strips of smoked salmon.