No-Cook

I hated this salad when I was growing up: It was pink, had too many ingredients in it, and my very Southern family loved it — three good reasons to abstain. During Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, my mother would always go back for seconds, chiming, "You don't know what you're missing." But I knew, all right — an unappealing mishmash of canned fruit and mayonnaise. No thanks. However, as I've grown older my family's "Southern classics" don't embarrass me as much. I've actually eaten this salad many times as an adult, and though I'm not saying it's my favorite, sometimes I need seconds to be sure.

A perfect partner to salad. Accompany with a platter of celery sticks and radishes with their tops attached.

At the restaurant, this vinaigrette is also used as a marinade for grilled chicken.

A flavorful accompaniment for roast pork, chicken, burgers, or grilled shrimp.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe originally accompanied Strawberry Basket Cake .

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Chick-Pea Dip with Parsley and Pine Nuts)

Outstanding in flavor and freshness, these marinated vegetables are unlike anything you'll find in a jar or deli case. But do make a trip to your local Italian delicatessen for sliced assorted cold cuts and crusty bread to go with the vegetables. It all adds up to an impressive no-hassle starter.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe originally accompanied Lemon-Almond Buttermilk Loaf with Balsamic Strawberries .

The star of this dish is skordalia, a garlicky dip that is the Greek version of aioli.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Cranberries are cultivated in Canada, and tradition there calls for hosts to make a punch for Christmas guests. Here, the crop and the custom merge in a delightful champagne cocktail, which takes a French turn with the addition of crème de cassis.