Basil

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Begin the meal with chilled canned vichyssoise sprinkled with chopped fresh chives. A bowl of marinated green and black olives goes well with the salad, and a compote of the season's best fruits — berries, melon and peaches — is a nice finish.

Serve with rice or boiled new potatoes.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. In this recipe hot pasta is tossed with an uncooked sauce of oil, herbs, a little vinegar, mozzarella, and raw garlic. The pasta absorbs some of the vinegar and oil and slightly melts the mozzarella. We call for bocconcini — bite-size pieces of mozzarella — but regular fresh mozzarella cut into 1/2-inch cubes would work just as well. Tip: When incorporating raw garlic into a dish such as this, buy the freshest garlic you can find. The cloves should be dry and tightly packed together, and they should feel firm. Old garlic may impart a bitter, strong flavor — overwhelming the other components.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(FARFALLE CON ZUCCHINI) This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Garlic Sauce .

The mustard dressing is used both to marinate the lamb and to coat the salad. And don't let the anchovies in the dressing scare you off. They add depth of flavor, but not a fishy taste. Complete this dish with a chilled Beaujolais.

Tenderize the boneless chicken breast halves by flattening them as you would for a chicken piccata, then marinating in lemon juice. What to drink: A crisp Sauvignon Blanc is ideal with both the breaded chicken and the asparagus risotto.

This creamy mixture of spinach, cheese and basil is an unforgettable side dish.

"One night, I promised to make dinner for a blind date, and—as usual—I was running late," writes Hollander Finegold of Eugene, Oregon. "I had few ingredients and little time. Luckily, the dinner was a success, and this recipe has been a staple of mine ever since."

When draining the artichokes, turn them upside down to allow more water to escape from the leaves. What to drink: A crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc is a good choice with this starter and the rest of the menu.

Use packaged prewashed mixed baby greens to make this salad in practically no time. A chilled Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with the dish's fresh, bright flavors.

Slightly sweet, fresh ricotta, which can be found in many Italian markets, makes this starter especially delicious. Regular ricotta also works well.