American

Toss salad with the Sunshine Vinaigrette just before serving, so that the greens won't discolor.

Not quite as sweet as a pecan pie, but with the same caramel candy-like filling.

Buttermilk and lemon juice add some tang; carrots and celery add crunch.

"I have prepared the plum torte from Marian Burros’s The Best of De Gustibus many times, and I’ve also tried variations using different kinds of fruit," says Peter Wayne Gagnon of Pineville, North Carolina. "My experiments helped me arrive at my own version of this dessert." Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

To make things even easier, use a cabbage slaw mix. Serve with: Deli rice salad.

"This past year, I've enjoyed more opportunities than usual to travel and dine out," writes Tony Solomita of Arlington, Virginia. "Instead of a photo album, I'd like to create an album of recipes from these new favorite restaurants. I'll start with a dessert: the berries with custard sauce from L'Auberge Chez François in nearby Great Falls." For these individual desserts, a light, foamy custard called a sabayon is poured over berries and broiled until just brown.

This cake is a southern tradition for festive occasions. It can be completely assembled and chilled one day before serving.

"For me, cooking is a very relaxing and creative process — I just wish I had more time for it," writes Katherine Burk of Seattle, Washington. "I make a point of fixing dinner during the week, but with my hectic schedule (I work in information technology), there are some nights I'm too wiped out to attempt anything more complicated than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Usually, though, I can put something together — my spicy black bean soup, for example — in under thirty minutes." A southwestern favorite, simplified: Most of the ingredients are pantry staples.

Serve as a first course on a bed of arugula or as a side dish with grilled beef or chicken.

Serve with: Spanish rice and grilled mixed bell peppers drizzled with citrus vinaigrette.

Scented with nutmeg, these distinctive light little cookies have been a family favorite for many years. They are easy to make, melt in your mouth, and are far better than store-bought meringue cookies.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Peach Blackberry Pie . Try to roll out pie dough on a cold surface. If you have a little extra dough, roll it out and make a decorative cutout in the shape of a peach. Place it on the top of the pie.

A whole mackerel or bluefish is about 2 feet long, so you will just be able to fit it on an angle in a large rectangular gas grill or a wide oven; see cooks' notes, below. You might want to measure your grill (or oven) before choosing a fish to make sure you'll have enough room. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Chocolate-covered raisins turn into fudgy pockets of intense chocolate and chewy raisins in these easy brownies.

For presentation, fill decorative tins and canisters with this delightful confection.

This side dish goes especially well with grilled or broiled meats.