Salad

Marinate the cheese for a couple of hours, then assemble the salad just before serving.

Ensalada de Ejote, Espinaca, y Betabel The green beans and the poblano chiles in the salad dressing may be the only ingredients that are indigenous to Mexico, but the colorful combination of vegetables, with their contrasting textures, results in a fitting accompaniment to any Mexican dinner.

Begin preparing the salads at least one day ahead to allow the flavors to blend.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The following antipasto is based on an octopus and cannellini salad served at La Baraonda in Florence.

A simple salad with a tangy dressing-perfect for and April picnic.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Pairing citrus fruit with olives is a time-honored Moroccan tradition. While most versions of this salad call for oranges, tangerines make a sweet substitute.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min

Candida Sportiello writes: "As owner and chef of Il Giardino restaurant, I've been cooking professionally for twenty-five years — but I've been cooking for pleasure for a good fifty years. As is the Italian way, most of my favorite recipes were handed down from my mother and grandmother, so they date from the early 1900s."

Insalata di Radicchio, Frisée, e Carciofi Including raw artichokes in a salad is an Italian trademark — their flavor is fresher and milder than that of cooked artichokes. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 hr

I like chicken to remain moist, but it must be cooked through; so, if necessary, cook longer than recommended here. If cutting the meat in thirds is too large to handle, cut into four pieces.

There are generally two kinds of wheat berries available at natural foods stores: hard (high-protein), which are reddish brown, and soft (low-protein), which are blond. We prefer the chewiness of the hard variety for this recipe. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.