Citrus

Active time: 15 min
Start to finish: 15 min

Capri, Italy This decadent flourless chocolate and almond cake originated on the island of Capri, where it's called torta Caprese.

The cumin really enhances this dish. Cook this spice with the onions to bring out its aroma. Lemon juice brightens the flavors while honey softens them.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 2 3/4 hr (includes cooling)

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

Pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, is traditionally made with long-cooked beef stock. Our quick version calls for deli sliced beef and canned beef broth instead.<

You can start baking this beautiful cake two days ahead: Make the cake layers and the raspberry curd a day before assembling; then the completed cake can be refrigerated a day before serving.

Fresh orange juice always makes the best cranberry relish. Zest whole oranges before squeezing them for juice.

Begin with a ripe mango or ripen in a paper bag. First peel the skin off the mango. Slice it lengthwise on either side of the pit. This may be 4 slices. The pit may be oval. Use a serrated knife and proceed with the recipe.

Green curry paste (a blend of green chilies, garlic, onion, and spices) adds explosive flavor to these one-biters. You'll need a miniature muffin tin to prepare the wonton cups.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 6 1/4 hr (includes chilling)

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

"My taste in food is pretty simple," writes Sara Hainsworth of Frederick, Maryland. "I'm a meat-and-potatoes — and chocolate — kind of person. This lemon tart recipe is my husband, Greg's, specialty. Greg and I cook together a lot, which is fun and makes weeknight dinners and cooking for friends easier to manage now that we're starting our own family." For a chocolate-fix variation, Sara suggests filling purchased three-inch chocolate tartlet shells with the lemon curd. Or brush melted sweet chocolate over the graham cracker crust before filling. Begin this recipe four hours to one day ahead.

Tomates Rellenos Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min Long before guacamole, tortilla chips, and Margaritas became a popular light dinner, guacamole was often served in tomatoes, and we were charmed by this presentation.

Dried cranberries can be used in place of the pomegranate seeds in this recipe.