Gourmet

Despite many Asian ingredients in this dish, the end result only slightly reflects their presence. Rice and asparagus make good side dishes.

Doña Tomasa and other Oaxacans often thin their guacamole with water to make a dipping sauce. Sometimes a little cream or milk is added as well.

This recipe is used to prepare Grilled Tuna and Roasted Peppers Sandwiches on Thyme Focaccia and Presciutto, Mozzarella, and Olive Sandwiches on Parmesan Focaccia . If you need only one focaccia, freeze the other for later use. Focaccia keeps, frozen, 2 weeks.

It's easier to make buttercream with a standing electric mixer, but it can be done with a handheld one.

This soufflé-like tart makes a nice lunch or light dinner with a salad of mixed baby greens.

(Chicken with Preserved Lemons and Olives)

Umeboshi, or pickled plums, are not technically plums at all, but apricots. They are mixed with rice to make a popular summer dish in Japan. We've enlivened this salad with pickled ginger and sugar snap peas.

Pan-roasting or toasting in a dry cast-iron skillet is a cooking technique used often in Mexican cuisine. We use it here to bring up the flavors of corn, onion, and pumpkin seeds. We created this salad as a main course, but it's also a terrific side dish. Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 hr

If you've never tried roasted cauliflower before, this dish will be a revelation.