European

This recipe was given to Willinger by the late Torquato Innocenti, the local farmer whom Willinger considered her muse. Whenever she bought vegetables from his stand, he would give her terrific ideas for how to use them. Willinger wanted to honor his recipe-sharing tradition by passing this delicious slaw along to our readers.

This simple soup, known as zuppa Sarda, is eaten year-round all over Sardinia.

(Emilia-Romagna Flatbread with Broccoli Rabe) A piadina is baked on a griddle, folded in half, and filled. In Emilia-Romagna, the fillings might include sautéed greens; cold meats such as prosciutto or salami; and semisoft or soft cheeses such as Fontina Valle d'Aosta. Piadine are usually eaten like sandwiches but can be cut into small wedges to serve as a first course.

For centuries, the French have been braising duck as a way to tenderize it, whether the duck was wild or tame (use only farm-raised duck in the recipe below). The slight bitterness of turnips nicely offsets the flavorful meat rich but simple sauce. The appropriate wine choice here would be French-splurge a bit for the season and pour a good Burgundy or Chablis with this.

"While in Greenville, South Carolina, we dined at The Palms, located in the Phoenix Inn," writes Marilyn J. Smith of Bradford, Pennsylvania. "All their food is outstanding, but I would particularly like the recipe for the Roquefort terrine. It was delicious!"

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Mulled wine is also known as vin chaud and glühwein. In the past, the drink was usually served in a pewter mug and often heated with a red-hot poker.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

To make this borscht into a full meal, serve the butter-braised oysters as a starter, or vice versa.

Soupe au Pistou During Marion Cunningham’s last visit with Richard Olney, he made a version of this recipe, which comes from Simple French Food. As he made it, he told her that he thought the trick to cooking is tasting — in the case of the soup that day, adding the right amount of salt and pepper, then cheese, then a little olive oil, and finally some macaroni. After making the soup in our own kitchens, following the recipe from the book (it's highly adaptable to seasonal produce or the contents of your larder), we can understand why this recipe is so loved among Olney’s fans.

(MIXED SALAD)

The following recipe is based on Marcella Hazan's "no-stirring" method from her book Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. This recipe originally accompanied Roasted Veal Chops with Shallots, Tomatoes and Olive Jus.They may be seared and roasted while the polenta is simmering.

Few cookies are easier to make or more sublime to eat. I created them for my beautiful Hungarian mom, who called them finum, or refined. Sometimes we eat them with a strong cup of coffee as we play Scrabble, or after dinner, with a slightly chilled glass of sweet Tokay wine.