Pecan

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

Most supermarkets have at least one type of spiced sausage. If you don't have the time to make cornbread, it usually is sold at BBQ restaurants and diners. This recipe is an accompaniment for Maple Ginger Roasted Turkey.

Whether at home or on vacation, pancakes are a family affair at Debra's house every Saturday morning, and banana is her children's favorite kind. But don't limit yourself: blueberries, strawberries, and nectarines all taste equally delicious. Try lightly toasting the pecans for a decidedly adult flavor, or substitute chopped walnuts.

Make a cake the easy way: Spruce up a mix with sour cream, chocolate, brown sugar frosting and a crunchy pecan brittle.

Vibrant berry flavor and a buttery crust accented with grated orange peel are the hallmarks of this outstanding pie.

Partner these with ripe pears and a blue cheese, like Roquefort or Gorgonzola.

Holidays in our home were strategic missions. We had a plan, everyone had a job, and in a perfect world, we would somehow deploy the food from a cleaned kitchen to a set table, complete with ice in glasses, by 5:30 p.m. Time was scarce. To compensate, my mom had a collection of simple coffee cakes that were quick, had enough chocolate to qualify as desserts in my family, and didn't contain walnuts (as they bother her mouth). This was the first from-scratch cake she taught me. It's good, easy, and practical, with chunks of chocolate and a sprinkling of spice.

A Dijon mustard vinaigrette brings all the flavors together. If you can't find basmati rice, white long-grain rice is fine.

Here's a great idea for a summer dessert. To make preparation even easier, use your favorite cherry or pecan ice cream.

In this recipe there will be extra mousse and pecan crisps (the recipes will not work if reduced). Both elements are delicious on their own.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The recipe makes about 36 truffles; 12 are used for the tartlets. The extras can be kept frozen for other special occasions. Start this recipe the day before serving the tartlets.

Inspired by the cooking of the American South—and absolutely delicious.

"One of the most unusual restaurants in our area is Kemo Sabe," says Laura Bates of San Diego, California. "Co-chef and co-owner Deborah Scott combines influences from around the world to create interesting dishes—including the restaurant’s signature appetizer of fried Brie with jalapeño jelly. I’d love to serve it to my friends." Place a small bowl of jalapeño jelly on a platter, and surround it with fried Brie wedges and French bread slices for a lovely presentation. Chef Scott makes her own jalapeño jelly; the purchased kind is an easy substitute.

'60S THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW At the opening of every episode, we see Andy and Opie walking to the creek, fishing rods slung over their shoulders, accompanied by the catchy whistled theme music. Mayberry, North Carolina, offered a welcome respite from the growing complexity of the rest of the world. This simple and delicious recipe is one way that Aunt Bee might have prepared Andy's freshly caught trout. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 40 min

Rosemary Leicht of Bethel, Ohio, writes: "I've been a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off three times, so I'm something of an expert at cooking with prepared doughs and bread mixes. Even though these items are simple to use, many people don't venture beyond the package directions. For each contest, I experimented with dozens of recipes, and some of my favorites have been breakfast dishes and desserts. Nowadays I don't enter as many competitions as I used to, but my family still looks forward to my latest creations." Look for cinnamon chips in the supermarket's baking section.