Onion

These pickled peppers work well with Cheddar and other firm/hard cheeses.

An elegant and simple main course.

You'll notice that there's no wine or other braising liquid called for here. The veal cooks in the succulent juices exuded by the tomatoes and onions.

Market tip: All rainbow trout sold in markets are sustainably farm-raised.

Serve with: Buttered noodles and steamed Swiss chard. Dessert: A bakery Linzertorte.

Serve this zesty Cajun-flavored hash with a big salad (like a romaine mix with herb croutons) and a New Orleans-inspired dessert such as broiled bananas with butter pecan ice cream.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr Don't use water-packed tuna for this recipe — it's too bland for the filling. Tuna packed in olive oil, however, will make for empanaditas that taste genuine. Especially with a glass of Fino Sherry.

Feel free to add, subtract, or substitute any raw or cooked vegetables you'd like, but make sure there's a good variety of textures and colors.

Not only is the yogurt marinade an excellent tenderizer, but it imparts a nice, mild tang as well. Begin marinating the chicken one day in advance.

"Dinner at J. Alexander’s in nearby Troy is a treat my family enjoys regularly, and there’s one thing we always order: the chicken soup. says Katie Randlett of Wixom, Michigan."Although it sounds ordinary, this version definitely isn’t — it has a rich, creamy texture, and it’s full of goodies like pasta, sugar snap peas and carrots." Sugar snap peas add crunch to this comforting soup. The restaurant uses penne pasta, but macaroni would also work well.

This classic accompaniment to grilled meats also makes a great taco filling. Grilled chiles, peppers, and onion.

Spoon this Asian-inspired salsa over grilled tuna, swordfish, or salmon.

(MINESTRA DI CAMPAGNA) Creativity with simple ingredients is one of the themes of Sicilian cooking. There's no better example than this bean and vegetable soup, which some say evolved from food that fifteenth-century galley cooks made for mariners. Serve an island dry red wine such as Corvo with this.

Offer a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon with this impressive prime rib.