This open-faced sandwich makes a light supper or lunch. For bigger appetites, you can double the recipe.
Serve this warm sauce spooned over grilled or broiled firm white fish, such as halibut or cod, or with grilled shrimp or chicken. It also makes an excellent dip. The large yield means you can freeze some of the sauce to have on hand at a moment's notice.
Good-quality cheese pairs with nuts and dried fruit in this classic hors d'oeuvre. The only trick to this easy terrine is to gently mix the cheeses just until combined. You can use any blue-veined cheese, even if it's a softer, creamy cheese, such as Gorgonzola. Just make sure it's cold, and gently pull it apart instead of crumbling it.
Couscous is a great secret weapon for busy nights because it needs only a 5-minute soak to be ready for the table. If you don't like scallops, peeled deveined jumbo shrimp make a tasty substitute.
Chocolate is one of the most versatile ingredients in baking—cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, mousse...you name it! But did you know you can use it in savoury recipes, too?
Serve this dessert with whole fresh raspberries in the summer or, in winter, puree frozen raspberries to serve as a sauce.
Look for dried lavender in spice aisles of gourmet stores—don't be tempted to use fresh flowers as not all varieties are edible. Reserve the zested lemons for flavouring water or freezing the juice for another use.
