Orange

(Swedish Rye Bread) A popular offering on the smorgasbords of Minnesota and Wisconsin, this bread has a clean-tasting combination of spice and sweetness that is characteristic of so much Scandinavian cooking.

The lobster and vegetables are tossed with an orange, shallot and tarragon dressing, then served over mixed green. Offer lavash crackers and white wine spritzers.

The mincemeat adds great flavor and texture to an ever-popular dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Pick up stuffed grape leaves, marinated mushrooms and crusty bread from the deli to round out the menu. Finish with an almond tart and brandied espresso.

The flavor of oranges enhance this colorful winter salad beautifully.

(PATE SUCREE) Makes plenty of dough for the Walnut Tartlets , Apple Galette or Apricot Tart .

Serve the oranges alone or alongside a wedge of angel food cake or pound cake.

"Recently, I had dinner at the super-romantic Shadowbrook Restaurant in nearby Capitola," writes Holly M. Sharps of Menlo Park, California. "To get to Shadowbrook, you have to take a cable car down a hill. The restaurant is on several levels and has spectacular views of the ocean — not to mention great food. The salmon was absolutely delicious." The sake- and soy-based ponzu sauce is traditionally a Japanese dipping sauce. Here, it’s used to baste the fish as it cooks.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Refreshing and absolutely delicious. Mix up this treat in the morning, and it will be frozen in time to help beat the heat by the early afternoon.

There will be plenty of leftover biscotti for afternoon coffee breaks.