Simmer

In Sweden various combinations of matjes herring — a type of herring cured in a spiced sweet-and-sour brine — are eaten with the first tender white potatoes of the season. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Terrines — molded preparations of meat, fish, or vegetables — are wonderfully rich and dense. This chicken variation, with a fraction of the calories and fat of a traditional terrine, draws its structure and moistness from aspic and its lively seasonings from China. To accompany it, try Japanese soba noodles — their springy texture contrasts with the terrine's smooth gel and tender chicken — and fast-cooked snow peas , for crunch.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Annatto seed seasoning paste

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A festive and refreshing dessert.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Orzo—rice shaped pasta—is easier to find than Arborio rice (the traditional ingredient in risotto) and makes a delicious risotto-style side dish.

Stifado, a hearty Greek stew, can be made with almost any kind of meat, though beef is most common. Here we use lamb. It always involves either red wine or red-wine vinegar or both, herbs, and copious quantities of small whole onions.

We like the flavor that 6 pounds of breast bones and 4 pounds of knuckles bring to this stock.

I, who struggled for years to achieve perfectly cooked, lively green beans love Aunt Enza's overstewed green beans, soft, almost creamy, tasting of bean, cooked far beyond crunch. Although Aunt Enza cooks the green beans in an onion and garlic-flavored tomato sauce she pointed out that leftover green beans can be subjected to the same treatment. Aunt Enza has a heavy Tuscan hand with extra virgin. I've cut down on the oil but my husband Massimo always adds a little extra at the table.

The bouquet garni for this stew includes orange peel (use a vegetable peeler to make wide strips) and some of the wispy fronds from the top of the fennel bulb that goes into the soup.