Gourmet

Ripe plantains have peels that are almost completely black whereas the firm-ripe ones called for in this recipe are mottled black and yellow. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The ciabatta does require a simple sponge but it takes only a few minutes to put together the day before making the bread. Though the dough for ciabatta is very wet and sticky, resist the temptation to add more flour. For this recipe you will need a baking stone or unglazed "quarry" tiles. Baking stones are available at cookware shops and by mail order from The Baker's Catalogue, tel. (800) 827-6836. Tiles are also available at the above sources as well as at many tile stores listed in the Yellow Pages.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. If you have Arborio rice on hand, use it in place of long-grained rice.

In Italy, the panna cotta (molded cooked-cream dessert) at each restaurant was different: Some included hazelnuts; some were made with eggs and some without. Taking a few liberties of our own - most notably adding sour cream - we created the following superb rendition.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage) Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This recipe for colcannon is thought to have come to the New World in the 1800s, carried by the great waves of Irish immigration.

(Russian Potato-and-Cabbage Turnovers)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Brining these pork chops for 2 days results in succulent, tender meat. The brine in this recipe is based on one that appears in Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton's Food of Campanile.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The texture of these spicy offerings varies according to baking time. Underbake them if you are partial to a chewy cookie; give them an extra minute or two in the oven if a crisp cookie is desired.