5 Ingredients or Fewer

This is a lovely first course or side dish.

(Thai Jasmine Rice) In Thailand, jasmine rice is nearly always cooked with just enough water to first boil and then steam the rice, and without salt or oil. Jasmine rice from Thailand is preferable, but you can substitute long-grain aromatic rice grown in the U.S.. As the rice cooks, it fills the house with its scent and the promise of good food to come. Those who have a rice cooker should measure the rice, wash it well, and cook it according to the manufacturer's instructions. If there are no water-to-rice proportions marked on your rice cooker, use the measurements set out in the recipe. This recipe was created to accompany Grilled Beef Salad , Thai Eggplant Salad and Chicken Stir-Fry with Holy Basil .

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Finish off this meal with some cookies from the bakery and fresh fruit.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe was created to accompany Cornmeal Cake with Sweet Rosemary Syrup and Blackberries. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A delicious low-calorie fat-free dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Allow 3 to 4 of the large shrimp per person. If only the smaller are available, you will need about 6 per person.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires addtional sitting time. Carol's mom used a grater and superfine sugar when she made this recipe, but we liked the ease of grinding the zest with regular sugar in a food processor. Best of all, we never once skinned our knuckles.

(PATE SUCREE) Makes plenty of dough for the Walnut Tartlets , Apple Galette or Apricot Tart .

Pop one of these in your mouth for a burst of bittersweet flavor.

Ever since R.C Van Dyne from Wilmington, NC tasted farinata in Alessandria, Italy, he has been wanting to make it. We obtained this recipe from Rose Pistola restaurant in San Francisco, where they serve their own farinata. Farinata is a thin, crisp, pizzalike pancake made from chick-pea flour. When we called Rose Pistola, we were thrilled to learn that the recipe had already been reworked for the home cook by Peggy Knickerbocker, coauthor with chef Reed Hearon of The Rose Pistola Cookbook: 140 Recipes from San Francisco's Favorite North Beach Restaurant (out October, 1999 from Broadway Books). The following recipe makes three farinata, but they must be baked one at a time. We suggest opening a bottle of wine, hanging out in the kitchen with friends, and eating the farinata as they come out of the oven. For best results, use a 10-inch seasoned cast-iron round griddle, about 3/8-inch deep, that can hold about 1 cup batter. Farinata can be made in a regular cast-iron skillet, but it won't be quite as crisp or easy to remove.