Simmer

Lighter, brighter flavors make this old-fashioned salad new again.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 35 min

"Every meal I've had at Addie's, a small place in nearby Rockville, has been great," says Alyssa Shooshan of Potomac, Maryland. "I especially like the lime cake; in fact, it's one of my favorite desserts. I do a lot of entertaining and would love to make the cake for a party."

A salad, some crusty bread and wine are all that's needed with this hearty pasta dish. For the wine, consider serving a bottle of Chianti or Sangiovese.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Simple and delicious, with great curry flavor.

This spinach is not only terrific in the shepherd's pie but makes a delicious side dish for many other meals. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

The gentle sweetness of this simple side dish goes well with the slightly spicy flank steak .

In just minutes, you've got a sophisticated accompaniment to steak, lamb, grilled fish or roast chicken.

For this recipe you will need a large marble slab or other heatproof work surface (about 20 by 20 inches) and a bench knife-a rectangular metal blade used for cutting and lifting doughs (do not use a plastic pastry scraper). Bench knives are available in cookware shops. The candies can be individually wrapped in wax paper or candy wrappers.

Offer cookies alongside this dessert.