Simmer

Save the beet tops for a quick side dish: just sauté them with garlic and olive oil, sprinkle with lemon, salt and pepper, and serve.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A sophisticated dish made from an assortment of pantry staples.

These can be served with the Veal, Mushroom and Red Wine Sauce or as a side dish for grilled meats.

Ask your butcher to cut the ham hocks.

The slight bitterness of the broccoli di rape contrasts pleasantly with the sweetness of the garlic. The pasta makes the soup more substantial.

This warm potato salad has a Mediterranean accent, thanks to mint, feta cheese and Kalamata olives.

For a great one-dish meal, serve this rich stew over rice. If you want to make it even more authentic, use couscous, a small grain-shaped pasta that is often found in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. It's available at many supermarkets and specialty foods stores.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This dessert is a refreshing way to conclude a spicy southwestern meal. For a festive note, dip the rims of frozen Margarita glasses into water and then into a bowl of sugar. Attach a lime slice to the lip of the glass and fill with sorbet.