Make Ahead

Adding fleur de sel at the end transforms this tart into a delicious cross between a cheese course and dessert.

Spooned atop fresh goat cheese on crostini, these piquant preserves make a great hors d'oeuvre. They are also delicious with scones or muffins at teatime. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Hazelnuts give these airy and crunchy nuggets a distinctive flavor.

Two favorite spring salads get combined into one easy, lower-fat version.

Plain old mash potatoes just may be a thing of the past. Nowadays, everything from turnips to kohlrabi end up partnering Idaho's most famous crop; we team the russets with rutabagas and parsnips. While this homey and healthful side dish is a must with lamb shanks, it also goes well with any number of meat dishes.

Bake this at least a day before serving.

At the restaurant, the burritos are filled with smoked pork, but this version, using roasted pork, also works well.

Raita is a yogurt salad, and integral--and cooling--part of an Indian meal. It can be prepared with raw and/or cooked vegetables (we use both here) or with fruit.

The Italian combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, called gianduia, is used here in a sumptuous, dense cake. The torte's lustrous chocolate glaze makes this a perfect dessert for holiday entertaining.