Italian

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A tangy, refreshing take on summer's classic back-yard side dish.

Nowhere are vegetables as important as they are in Sicily, and few vegetables are as popular-or have as long a history-as the eggplant. There are said to be hundreds of ways to prepare it. Peppers and artichokes are almost as well loved and common. A country cook often gets produce from a small kitchen garden called an "urtu".

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Plenty of black pepper is what makes this simple chicken dish so good. It's also terrific cooked on a grill. Pour your favorite Chianti.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This delicious pasta uses store-bought pesto.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

Because the beans need to be soaked overnight, start making this a day or two before you plan to serve it.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Use this focaccia to make Sausage, Bell Pepper, and Onion Sandwiches and Genoa Toasts.

(PROSCIUTTO E MELONE) The delicate pink cured ham from the hills of the province of Parma is one of Emilia's most important products. Purists insist it should be served on its own or with a slice of bread, but others enjoy it with melon, figs or pears; the sweetness of the fruit sets off the prosciutto's salty tinge perfectly. This simple dish is a classic example. Pour a dry white Albana di Romagna or Trebbiano di Romagna. If you can't find one of those, go for a Verdicchio from the neighboring region of the Marches.

Tangy buttermilk custards are a delicious foil for sweet tropical fruit.

Debbie Daly of Morris Township, New Jersey, writes: "When my husband and I visit my brother in Madison, Connecticut, we frequently dine at a spot called Perfect Parties. The last time I was there, I enjoyed sweet potato ravioli with brown butter sauce served over spinach. I would love to make it at home." Serve the ravioli atop a bed of wilted spinach, if desired, to soak up every bit of the flavorful brown butter sauce.