I am a sucker for silky-smooth Pappa al Pomodoro, Italy's cold tomato soup enriched with olive oil and thickened with day-old bread. It makes a luscious meal in itself for an Indian summer evening, but is also a great make-ahead first course for entertaining. (I have even poured it into a thermos to carry on a picnic.) Sweet vine-ripened tomatoes are beginning their swan song at farmers' markets now, so it's the perfect time to whirl up a batch of this soup in the blender. Serve with a warm loaf of crusty bread, a couple of artisan cheeses, and some oil-cured olives--and maybe pretend you're sitting under a grape arbor, overlooking your own private vineyard in Tuscany. Following this upscale peasant fare, go ahead and splurge on dessert--how about a rustic fig tart?

I am a sucker for silky-smooth Pappa al Pomodoro, Italy's cold tomato soup enriched with olive oil and thickened with day-old bread. It makes a luscious meal in itself for an Indian summer evening, but is also a great make-ahead first course for entertaining. (I have even poured it into a thermos to carry on a picnic.) Sweet vine-ripened tomatoes are beginning their swan song at farmers' markets now, so it's the perfect time to whirl up a batch of this soup in the blender. Serve with a warm loaf of crusty bread, a couple of artisan cheeses, and some oil-cured olives--and maybe pretend you're sitting under a grape arbor, overlooking your own private vineyard in Tuscany. Following this upscale peasant fare, go ahead and splurge on dessert--how about a rustic fig tart?

Okay, I'll admit I was sucked in by the recipe's name, but this is definitely worth trying. There are some nights when an easy one-course meal is all I can handle, and this Chinese-style fajita is just the ticket. The cook's time in the kitchen is minimal--especially when you use the store-bought shredded cabbage and roasted chicken suggested in the recipe. Once cooked, dinner becomes interactive, with each diner encouraged to "roll their own." (If you own a tortilla warmer that you can place on the table, definitely use it here.) Those who normally rush through dinner will be forced to slow their pace and enjoy some relaxed conversation...perhaps enhanced with a glass or two of Tsing Tao beer. While grocery shopping, you may also want to pick up some green tea ice cream and fortune cookies for the dessert lovers at your table.

Okay, I'll admit I was sucked in by the recipe's name, but this is definitely worth trying. There are some nights when an easy one-course meal is all I can handle, and this Chinese-style fajita is just the ticket. The cook's time in the kitchen is minimal--especially when you use the store-bought shredded cabbage and roasted chicken suggested in the recipe. Once cooked, dinner becomes interactive, with each diner encouraged to "roll their own." (If you own a tortilla warmer that you can place on the table, definitely use it here.) Those who normally rush through dinner will be forced to slow their pace and enjoy some relaxed conversation...perhaps enhanced with a glass or two of Tsing Tao beer. While grocery shopping, you may also want to pick up some green tea ice cream and fortune cookies for the dessert lovers at your table.