Snack

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tidbits to serve with before-dinner drinks.

In this clever dish from chef Michel Richard at Citronelle in Washington, D.C., fried sea scallops coated with fine strands of phyllo pastry resemble porcupines.

This starter is an easy version of the fried cheese dish, saganaki, which is traditionally paired with a glass of ouzo. It's great with freshly grilled pita bread.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Sweet Black Rice) Because Thais don't really have a dessert tradition, this simple black rice dish with coconut milk is most commonly eaten as a sweet snack or for breakfast — it also, however, makes a wonderful end to a meal. Recently available in North America, black glutinous rice is unpolished, so it is quite chewy, like brown rice. Thais make a more tender dish by combining the black rice with white sticky rice. As the rices soak together before steaming, the white rice takes on color from the black to become a beautiful dark purple.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(GRANITA DI LAMPONE) Sicily's Arab conquerors were on to something when they chilled sarbat (sweet fruit syrups) with snow from Mount Etna. The evolution from chilled syrup to frozen syrup-granita-was only a matter of time. Granita is still very popular in Sicily, where the most common kinds are coffee and lemon. But it is also enjoyed throughout Italy in a host of other flavors. A big plus to this refreshing ice is that it is prepared without an ice cream maker.

These peppers flavor up Fireside Lamb Stew as well as a simple sandwich.

These cookies are best enjoyed the same day they are made.