5 Ingredients or Fewer

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 10 min

"I enjoyed a delightful dinner at Restaurant Claes Claesz, an intimate place located in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam," writes Gretchen Method of Northville, Michigan. "Their cream of parsnip soup was simply wonderful. Could you get the recipe?" There is no cream in this soup—pureeing the ingredients creates the silky texture.

Top this decadent dessert from Pastis in New York with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream, if you like.

This simple side dish is even easier to prepare if you roast the beets the day before you plan to serve them.

Mexican chocolate contains cinnamon, sugar, and ground almonds, making this sauce somewhat granular in texture. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 35 min

For this recipe you will need a pastry bag and a 1/2-inch plain tip.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Originally made to accompany Black Bean and Sweet Potato Stew with Chillies and Polenta Triangles.

(Steamed Green beans) Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

At Restaurant Biga in San Antonio, owner-chef Bruce Auden's co-chef, Mark Bliss, created this lovely side dish. He pairs it with roast pork, chicken or lamb. Cipolline onions are small, sweet Mediterranean onions; they are available at some supermarkets.

To give these cookies a pretty curved shape, drape them over a wooden dowel or the handle of a wooden spoon immediately after removing them from the cookie sheet.