Goat Cheese

The aged goat cheese called for in this recipe is firmer than fresh and has a dry rind. Two kinds work best in this dish, Bucheron and Pouligny-St.-Pierre, both of which have just the right amount of tang — but ask at the cheese counter for comparable substitutes if you have trouble finding them. Cafe Pasqual's, in Santa Fe, serves its version of this dish — "pigs 'n' figs" — with blue cheese. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

"For our anniversary, my husband and I went to Fiddle Heads in nearby Buffalo — a restaurant that’s always our first choice for special occasions," says Noreen Flynn of Kenmore, New York. "The chicken with mashed potatoes and greens I had last time was terrific; it would even be good enough to serve to guests during the holidays." Marinate the chicken overnight to make the most of the fresh herbs — their flavors will infuse the meat, with delicious results.

Delicious with toasted bread, as presented here, or with celery sticks, red bell pepper strips or Belgian endive leaves.

(Three Generations of Squash) Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Fresh strawberries and cookies from the bakery round out the meal nicely. Pour a dry white wine or iced tea. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

In this recipe we call for a 10 1/2- by 7- by 1-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable fluted rim; you could instead use a 10- by 1-inch round tart pan with a removable rim. The cornmeal makes a tender, delicate crust.

Jalapeño-Cilantro Salsa and Tomato Salsa are colorful accompaniments to this great entrée.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Chef Beverly Gannon accompanies the bread with this salsa, plus a garlic-ginger yogurt dipping sauce and a tomato-mint sauce.

The warm goat cheese toasts make delicious croutons for the salad, but they would also be an easy hors d'oeuvre.

A perfect partner to salad. Accompany with a platter of celery sticks and radishes with their tops attached.

Prepared pesto is put to delicious use in this easy and elegant appetizer.

"At the Charleston Grill in Charleston, South Carolina, we were overwhelmed by how delicious the grits were," write Neil and Judy Kleinman of Pasadena, California. "This spectacular side dish was made with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and was served in a small skillet."

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.