Red Skin Potato

There must be as many versions of this—Ireland's national dish—as there are cooks. One thing all recipes should say is that the stew is to be cooked slowly until the lamb is meltingly tender. This stew is the ideal dish to return to after a day in the open air, as it can be made ahead and reheated while cook and guests enjoy the hot punch.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less

A potato dish for dedicated garlic lovers.

Choose beets and potatoes of about the same size.

Roasted garlic produces a rich dressing using very little oil.

Lane Crowther, Bon Appétit contributing editor, says, "When I was young, the potatoes on the holiday table were always mashed. Even today, my mother, who is still in charge of our Thanksgiving dinners, will rarely stray from tradition. Either there has to be a trade-off to get her to try something new, or—as in the case of this recipe—innovation simply comes as an addition to the menu, not a replacement. Well, with so many different kinds of potatoes available nowadays, I like to mix varieties for their contrasting flavors, textures and colors. This combination of red potatoes and Yukon Gold is an easy-to-make and great-tasting accompaniment to any meal."

Choucroute — the pickled cabbage that is a cornerstone of Alsatian cuisine — is similar to sauerkraut. One key difference is that choucroute is always cooked in wine. Here, sauerkraut is combined with smoked ham hocks, sausages and potatoes.

An easy-to-make infused oil makes a big difference in the taste of these potatoes.

Bake these potatoes in the oven along with the Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Strata .

"My favorite lamb dish in recent memory was a lamb shank at Bistro 110 here in Chicago," writes Valerie Young of Chicago, Illinois. "The waiter told me that it was seasoned with cumin, coriander, and curry, then braised for a very long time." The secret to this recipe? The lamb marinates overnight in a fragrant oil-and-spice mixture. If you don't have a spice grinder or coffee grinder, use a mallet to crush the seeds in a resealable plastic bag.

Just a few ingredients are all it takes to prepare a wonderful side dish that's great for any time of the year.

Tomatoes and bell pepper also give color and flavor to this impressive side dish.

Small imported Turkish bay leaves, available at supermarkets, are ideal for this recipe.

When a generous garnish of pesto gets stirred in, the soup turns a vibrant green and becomes perfumed with the intense and sweet aroma of basil mixed with garlic.

A classic rendition of the summer favorite. For something a little different, Cash sometimes adds two-thirds cup chopped fresh cilantro and two teaspoons curry powder.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.