Sun-Dried Tomato

Put a slice of this butter on any grilled or panfried meat or fish, or slather it on warm corn bread. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 45 min

A stylish dinner party dish with a bonus: Much of the prep work can be done a day ahead. At the store, have the butcher bone and trim all of the fat and membrane from a 4 3/4-pound center-cut veal rib roast, resulting in a 3-pound oblong boneless veal loin.

The crisp Rosemary Toasts taste great dunked into this flavorful soup. To serve on the side, toss arugula with sliced red onions and basalmic vinaigrette, then top the salad with shavings of Parmesan cheese. For dessert, keep it simple with ripe pears and amaretti (almond cookies).

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 40 min

This Mediterranean-style treatment of lamb shanks is delicious over orzo.

Using sun-dried tomatoes that are not packed in oil cuts down on fat. You can find them at some supermarkets, specialty foods stores and Italian markets.

Baked egg roll wrappers make a crisp, low-fat base for the roasted mushroom topping.

Toasted baguette slices and some baby greens tossed with marinated artichoke hearts are a wonderful accompaniment to the pasta. (For extra flavor, you can spread the baguette slices with olive paste before servings.) Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Crusty Italian bread and mixed greens with a red wine vinaigrette are good with the pasta. Afterward, put out big strawberries and bowls of mascarpone cheese (or sour cream) and brown sugar for dipping.

Chef Laurent Manrique is a big fan of Laura Chenel goat cheese in Sonoma, which is available at many cheese shops across the country.

The warm goat cheese toasts make delicious croutons for the salad, but they would also be an easy hors d'oeuvre.

"Vito's Waterfront, a charming restaurant on Marco Island off Florida's Gulf Coast, offers a house salad that comes with a thick and tangy sun-dried tomato dressing," says Joanne Lawrence of Norwell, Massachusetts.

"I developed this recipe last winter and think it makes excellent cold-weather fare," says Lora Anderson of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.