Cheese

These hearty mushrooms, from Il Radicchio in Washington, D.C., are a stellar start to the meal.

The contrasting colors of these two beets are especially attractive in this dish but you may substitute any others.

Serve this with a basket of crusty bread.

Called panadas, these little pastries make wonderful hors d'oeuvres.

An easy version of the famous Cobb salad.

Creamy fresh cheese meets spinach in this Indian classic.

Purchased wonton wrappers stand in for fresh pasta in this easy recipe.

Rosemary Leicht of Bethel, Ohio, writes: "I've been a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off three times, so I'm something of an expert at cooking with prepared doughs and bread mixes. Even though these items are simple to use, many people don't venture beyond the package directions. For each contest, I experimented with dozens of recipes, and some of my favorites have been breakfast dishes and desserts. Nowadays I don't enter as many competitions as I used to, but my family still looks forward to my latest creations." A quick breakfast using prepared dough.

Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 2 hr

This dessert has a baked chocolate-cookie crust and a chilled light-and-fluffy filling of pureed fresh raspberries folded into whipped mascarpone cheese.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 25 min

This herbed cheese dip has almost nothing else in it to mask the thyme flavor. Serve with crackers, lightly toasted pita bread, and raw vegetable sticks.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

What to drink: Sangiovese wines are a classic pairing with robust pasta dishes. Try the Cantina di Montalcino 1999 Poggio del Sasso, a good-value Super Tuscan.