Burger

A low-fat alternative to beef, ground buffalo is becoming increasingly available.

A true demi-glace — the luscious sauce made by reducing homemade stock and red wine to a rich concentration — needs to simmer for several hours, making it the perfect activity for a lazy winter Sunday.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

I love cheeseburgers, but I think that I like this meatloaf even better, especially when served with sesame-seed rolls and french fries.

These burgers are easier to handle if they are chilled for one hour before grilling. They would be great with rice salad and cucumber slices. Grilled pound cake topped with crushed sweetened strawberries and whipped cream makes a luscious finale.

Ground turkey would make a fine substitute for beef in these Southwest-style burgers (grill until cooked through).

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. For side dishes, mix grated carrots into deli macaroni salad, and pass corn on the cob. Strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce and sliced strawberries is a sweet ending.

Green peppercorns can be found packed in brine in the specialty foods section of most large supermarkets.

Ground turkey is a fine substitute for the chicken.

These are equally good with either ground pork or ground lamb.