Desperation Dinners Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Cornish Hens With Corn Couscous

MAIN DISH

BACON-WRAPPED CORNISH HENS WITH CORN COUSCOUS

Use equal parts of dried rosemary, marjoram, thyme and sage if you can't find the Herbes de Provence.

Fork on the Road Recipe: Seafood Fried in Cornmeal

MAIN DISH

SEAFOOD FRIED IN CORNMEAL

Serve hot with cocktail or tartar sauce. The key here is frying at 375 degrees. That way the seafood is cooked before the batter gets too brown (use a deep-fry thermometer).

Recipe: Pasta With Onion, Greens and Butternut Squash

MAIN DISH

PASTA WITH ONION, GREENS AND

BUTTERNUT SQUASH

1 (1 3/4-pound) butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice (4 cups cubed)

Thanksgiving Recipe: Green Beans With Hazelnuts And Gorgonzola

SIDE DISH

GREEN BEANS WITH HAZELNUTS AND GORGONZOLA

Any blue cheese is fine. Walnuts would be good here, too.

2 pounds green beans, trimmed

Thanksgiving Recipe: Cook's Corner's Mashed Potato and Bacon Stuffing

SIDE DISH

COOK'S CORNER'S MASHED POTATO AND BACON STUFFING

1 (1-pound) loaf sliced challah or high-quality white bread

1 cup milk plus more as needed

Thanksgiving Recipe: Ellen Kanner's Kale With Fennel, Cranberries and Walnuts

SIDE DISH

ELLEN KANNER'S KALE WITH FENNEL, CRANBERRIES AND WALNUTS

1/3 cup walnuts

1 fennel bulb

2 tablespoons olive oil

Thanksgiving Recipe: Linda Gassenheimer's Sweet Pastry Crust

PASTRY

LINDA GASSENHEIMER'S SWEET PASTRY CRUST

This cookie-style pastry is easier to handle than regular pie dough. It can be rerolled without spoiling the quality and can be frozen raw or after it has been baked.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Make-Ahead Cranberry Pumpkin French Toast

BREAKFAST

MAKE-AHEAD CRANBERRY PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST

12 to 15 slices sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

8 ounces cream cheese

Dinner in Minutes Recipe: Halibut In Cider

MAIN DISH

HALIBUT IN CIDER

1/4 cup flour

Salt and freshly ground pepper

3/4 pound halibut

2 teaspoons olive oil

Recipe: Chicken Pad Thai

MAIN DISH

CHICKEN PAD THAI

The sauce makes more than you use in the recipe but it keeps refrigerated for several days or can be frozen. Look for tamarind juice at ethnic specialty stores or in the ethnic aisle of grocery stores.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup

SOUP

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 (1 3/4-pound) butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)

Thanksgiving Recipe: Carole Kotkin's Ginger, Lime and Squash Soup With Ginger Cream

SOUP

CAROLE KOTKIN'S GINGER, LIME AND SQUASH SOUP WITH GINGER CREAM

The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. If you love the flavor of coconut, use unsweetened coconut milk in place of the half-and-half.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Nancy Ancrum's Pan-Braised Carrots With Orange And Rosemary

SIDE DISH

NANCY ANCRUM'S PAN-BRAISED CARROTS WITH ORANGE AND ROSEMARY

Be sure to get carrots with the tops on them, the kind Bugs Bunny eats. Specialty markets such as Epicure and Fresh Market carry them.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Beverly Mills' Cranberry Sauce With Port and Dried Figs

SAUCE

BEVERLY MILLS' CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH PORT AND DRIED FIGS

You may use Madeira or sherry instead of ruby port. This takes just 20 minutes to make and another 20 minutes to cool. The sauce can be made up to a week ahead and refrigerated.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Maricel Presilla's Creamy Chocolate Cheese Flan With Hibiscus Sauce

DESSERT

MARICEL PRESILLA'S CREAMY CHOCOLATE CHEESE FLAN WITH HIBISCUS SAUCE

This spectacular flan is reminiscent of the classic cream cheese-fruit paste pairing that Latin Americans like so much. Do not use the spice marketed as ``cinnamon'' in American stores (it's really cassia). Look for soft, flaky true cinnamon from Ceylon, which has a much subtler and more delicate flavor. You can find it in Hispanic markets under the name canela. The red hibiscus sauce makes a gorgeous contrast with the dark flan.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Potato Kugel

SIDE DISH

POTATO KUGEL

Though it is traditional to make this with chicken fat, you can use butter or vegetable oil.

6 medium potatoes, peeled

Dinner in Minutes Recipe: Saffron Rice

SIDE DISH

SAFFRON RICE

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 cup long-grain white rice

1/8 teaspoon saffron

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Recipe: Pumpkin-Cranberry Spice Cake

DESSERT

PUMPKIN-CRANBERRY

SPICE CAKE

Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes (20 minutes active).

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash

SIDE DISH

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

1 (2-pound) butternut squash

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Thanksgiving Recipe: Linda Cicero's Vegetarian Apple-Corn Bread Stuffing

SIDE DISH

LINDA CICERO'S VEGETARIAN APPLE-CORN BREAD STUFFING

You can find rich vegetable stock in natural foods stores. If using a supermarket brand, use 3/4 cup plus an extra 3/4 cup apple juice. Add sage or thyme to taste if you wish, and a little curry powder for punch.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Linda Bladholm's Spiced Honey Sweet Potatoes

SIDE DISH

LINDA BLADHOLM'S SPICED HONEY SWEET POTATOES

Brown sugar and honey bring out the sweetness of the orange tubers, with a touch of butter and warming spices. Cardamom pods are available at Indian markets.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Linda Gassenheimer's Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

DESSERT

LINDA GASSENHEIMER'S PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE

Since the egg white is uncooked, I use pasteurized eggs (such as Davidson's brand). The recipe can be doubled for two (8-inch) pies or one 12-inch pie, and can be made in a simple graham cracker crust.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Maricel Presilla's Hibiscus Sauce (Sirope De Flor De Jamaica)

SAUCE

MARICEL PRESILLA'S HIBISCUS SAUCE

(Sirope de Flor

de Jamaica)

Look for dried hibiscus in the Latin or Caribbean section of your supermarket.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Breakfast Egg Casserole

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST EGG CASSEROLE

1 pound bulk sausage or diced ham

6 slices buttered white bread

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese

Desperation Dinners Recipe: Edamame Soup

SOUP

EDAMAME SOUP

Start to finish: 25 minutes.

6 cups reduced-sodium, fat-free chicken or vegetable broth

2 cups (about 10 ounces) frozen shelled edamame

Cook's Corner Recipe: Cynthia's Breakfast Casserole

BREAKFAST

CYNTHIA'S BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

1 (1-pound) roll bulk sausage

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 (16-ounce) bag of egg noodles

Recipe: Capri Lemon Pasta With Peas, Fava Beans And Asparagus

MAIN DISH CAPRI LEMON PASTA WITH PEAS, FAVA BEANS AND ASPARAGUS This lemony pasta with peas, fava beans and asparagus from Maria Elia's The Modern Vegetarian remains brightly flavored and beautiful to look at even when edamame are substituted for the fava beans. Start to finish: 20 minutes.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Company French Toast

BREAKFAST

COMPANY

FRENCH TOAST

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cook's Corner Recipe: ORT Cheese Souffle

BREAKFAST

ORT CHEESE SOUFFLE

12 slices white bread, crusts trimmed

9 eggs, well beaten

3 cups milk

1 1/2 tablespoons oil

Fork on the Road Recipe: Ham, Celery and Cheddar Salad

SALAD

HAM, CELERY

AND CHEDDAR SALAD

Serve this salad slightly chilled or at room temperature in a bowl lined with lettuce.

1/4 cup mayonnaise

Recipe: Ruth Reichl's Roast Pumpkin With Cheese Fondue

MAIN DISH

RUTH REICHL'S ROAST PUMPKIN WITH CHEESE FONDUE

1 (15-inch) baguette

2 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese

Desperation Dinners Recipe: Faux Maque Choux

SIDE DISH

FAUX MAQUE CHOUX

(Cajun Corn

and Tomato Stew)

For an even spicier dish, add Tabasco sauce to taste. Leftovers are delicious and can be refrigerated for up to five days. Start to finish: 25 minutes.

Recipe: Basmati Rice Pilaf With Apples, Squash And Cranberries

SIDE DISH

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH APPLES, SQUASH AND CRANBERRIES

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, preferably a sweet variety such as Maui, Wall Walla or Vidalia, cut into small dice ( 1/2 cup)

Technique Recipe: Pasta With Bolognese Sauce

MAIN DISH

PASTA WITH

BOLOGNESE SAUCE

The new cookbook Gourmet Today uses this sauce with lasagna, but it's great with rigatoni, too. The richness of the meat pairs well with the fruit and spice of Feudo Principi di Butera Nero d'Avola from Sicily ($16.99). Salad completes the meal.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Tangy Tomato Salad Dressing

DRESSING

TANGY TOMATO

SALAD DRESSING

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onion

1/4 cup sugar, or to taste

Recipe: Steamed Egg(s) Nestled In A Bed Of Greens

MAIN DISH

STEAMED EGG(S) NESTLED

IN A BED OF GREENS

2 handfuls of tender greens (spinach, beet greens, Swiss chard, turnip greens, cress, or a combination)

Recipe: Squash Soup, Sweet or Spicy

SOUP

SQUASH SOUP,

SWEET OR SPICY

You can bring down the calorie count by using light coconut milk.

1 large acorn squash, or two small ones (2 to 3 pounds)

Cook's Corner Recipe: Crescent Caramel Swirl

SWEET ROLL

CRESCENT CARAMEL SWIRL

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/2 cup chopped nuts

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Recipe: Pork With Chile, Thai Sweet Basil and Toasted Coconut

MAIN DISH

PORK WITH CHILE,

THAI SWEET BASIL

AND TOASTED COCONUT

1 pound 4 ounces pork tenderloin, trimmed of excess fat and silver skin

Recipe: Pulled Pork On Soft Polenta

MAIN DISH

PULLED PORK

ON SOFT POLENTA

Start to finish: 45 minutes (20 minutes active).

1-pound pork loin, cut into 3- to 4-inch sections

Fork on the Road Recipe: Yogurt And Spinach Appetizer

APPETIZER

YOGURT AND SPINACH APPETIZER

Scoop up with paper-thin lavash bread, sold at Middle Eastern markets, or triangles of pita bread.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Pakistani Carrot Pudding (Gajraila)

DESSERT

PAKISTANI CARROT PUDDING (Gajraila)

1 (4 cups) quart milk

1/4 cup basmati or Carolina long-grain rice

1 pound carrots, scrubbed and grated

Fork on the Road Recipe: Tamarind Nectar

BEVERAGE

TAMARIND NECTAR

This tart-sweet drink, a favorite in Central and South America, is a cinch to make with the slabs of frozen tamarind pulp sold at South Florida supermarkets.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Old Miami Beach Deli-Style Coleslaw

SIDE DISH

OLD MIAMI BEACH DELI-STYLE COLESLAW

1 medium cabbage (about 1 pound)

1 green bell pepper

1 medium onion

HALLOWEEN APPETIZER

Do the monster mash

You'll want to put out knives for serving to avoid double dipping, but this adorable Cheesenstein spread, from Taste of Home magazine, is sure to scare up compliments at your Halloween party. Beat 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce until smooth.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Pecan Pie Surprise Bars

DESSERT

PECAN PIE

SURPRISE BARS

1 box yellow or butter-flavor cake mix

1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened

Dinner in Minutes Recipe: Mexican Sopes (Layered Open Tortilla Sandwiches)

MAIN DISH

MEXICAN SOPES (Layered Open Tortilla Sandwiches)

2 teaspoon canola oil

1/2 cup diced red onion

4 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Cook's Corner Recipe: Easy Lasagna

MAIN DISH

EASY LASAGNA

1/2 pound lean ground beef or sausage, casing removed

1 large onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

Recipe: Shrimp And Asparagus Stir-Fry

MAIN DISH

SHRIMP AND ASPARAGUS STIR-FRY

3-inch piece ginger

1 cup uncooked jasmine or basmati rice

12 ounces U-15 (jumbo) raw shrimp

Recipe: Jackfruit Casserole

MAIN DISH

JACKFRUIT CASSEROLE

2 eggs

1 cup mayonnaise

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Recipe: Hawaiian Jackfruit Salad

SALAD

HAWAIIAN JACKFRUIT SALAD

6 cups fresh jackfruit

Juice of one lime

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Vegetarian Recipe: In The Pink Grapefruit And Fennel Salad

SALAD

IN THE PINK GRAPEFRUIT

AND FENNEL SALAD

Both grapefruit and fennel are loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium and fiber. Walnuts are crazy with omega-3s. Toss together with a lightly sweet vinaigrette and you've got a palate-dazzling salad brimming with health.

Cocina Recipe: Maricel Presilla's Milk Chocolate-Coffee ''Cortadito'' brûlées (Cortaditos de Chocolate)

DESSERT

MARICEL PRESILLA'S MILK CHOCOLATE

-COFFEE 'CORTADITO' BRULEES

(Cortaditos de Chocolate)

My take on créme brlée combines a strong, not-too-sweet milk chocolate, the Cuban-style espresso-milk combination called cortadito and, for a crust with deeper flavor than the usual kind, unrefined, brown Latin American loaf sugar. The perfect garnish is a single caramelized cacao bean.

Cook's Corner Recipe: Breakfast Grits And Sausage Casserole

MAIN DISH

BREAKFAST GRITS AND SAUSAGE CASSEROLE

1/2 pound hot ground pork sausage

1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms

Recipe: Shrimp With Gazpacho Vinaigrette

MAIN DISH

SHRIMP WITH GAZPACHO VINAIGRETTE

FOR THE SHRIMP

1 pound (U-15) raw, shell-on jumbo shrimp

Olive oil, for drizzling

Recipe: Flip-Over Apple Cake

BREAKFAST

FLIP-OVER APPLE CAKE

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan

4 medium apples

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Cook's Corner Recipe: Starlight Double Delight Cake

DESSERT

STARLIGHT DOUBLE DELIGHT CAKE

FROSTING

2 (3-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened

Desperation Dinners Recipe: Pan-Seared Sea Scallops With Pear-Infused Balsamic Reduction

MAIN DISH

PAN-SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH PEAR-INFUSED BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Start to finish: under 25 minutes.

8 sea scallops (about 1 1/3 pounds total), defrosted if frozen

Fork on the Road Recipe: Eggplant Sambal

SIDE DISH

EGGPLANT SAMBAL

This thick sambal (sauce) is served with fish, chicken, or meat with rice. Use long, thin eggplants for best results (available at Asian and Indian markets).