Zucchini

Any combination of vegetables from the supermarket salad bar would work well here. Complete this colorful vegetarian meal with a romaine salad tossed with marinated artichoke hearts, canned garbanzo beans, and a creamy Italian dressing. End with biscotti and espresso.

This recipe was inspired by the version at Tramonti e Muffati restaurant, where the dish gets its distinctly Roman flavor from local mint, Sicilian lemons, and two-year-old Grana Padano cheese. The pine nuts are raw here, as Italians rarely toast them. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 20 min

Brush thick slices of country bread with olive oil to grill alongside the vegetables. To begin, dice some cucumber into chilled vichyssoise (either from a can or from restaurant takeout); offer watermelon and bakery brownies for dessert.

I like using Israeli couscous for this dish, although pearl barley may be substituted. This couscous is quite starchy and should be rinsed after cooking.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 40 min

Using frozen puff pastry for the crust makes this quiche-like tart super-easy.

Gouvej Claire S. Kedeshian of New York, New York, writes: "I am Armenian-American, and I would love to share a recipe of mine with you and your readers. It's for a traditional vegetable stew that has been made by my family for over three generations."

Low-fat mozzarella cheese makes this a rich-tasting dish for brunch or a simple supper.

To complete the menu, serve seeded Italian breadsticks and a salad of radicchio and marinated artichoke hearts tossed with balsamic vinaigrette. Spumoni ice cream is a perfect ending.

Crusty French bread, a spinach and mushroom salad and buttered noodles round out the menu, and a rich bakery chocolate cake finishes it in style.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Use alphabets or little stars, orzo, or tiny circles. Or use a combination of them all. The child in your life will love this, and so will the child in you.

Do-ahead tips make this rendition of the Spanish classic perfect for entertaining.