Beet

Here's a colorful make-ahead starter that's perfect for entertaining. Serve this bistro tradition-called assiette de crudité-with a baguette and butter.

An interesting side dish or meatless entrée.

During June through September, when the garden was most productive, Miss O'Keeffe would often walk with me to pick the vegetables she wanted for supper. She would consider what was ripe and what flavors would be pleasing,then supper would be served near six o'clock. Meals were generally prepared according to the following preferred schedule: breakfast at 7 a.m., the noon meal at 12 o'clock, and supper at 6 p.m. This schedule is one example of the patterns that suited the artist in her nineties.

A century-old dish, the following was probably named for its color (a resemblance to Harvard crimson); it seems to have no other connection with the school. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

Vinegar and mustard give the dressing in this salad an assertive flavor that contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the beets.

Pour a chilled dry Gewürztraminer to accompany the salad and offer crusty bread throughout dinner.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Salmon fillets can be substituted for the char. For a shortcut version of the horseradish cream, just mix 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream with prepared white horseradish to taste.

Beets for this refreshing cold soup were sometimes finely diced, other times coarsely grated. We liked best whichever we were being served, and I still alternate, indiscriminately.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

You can make the crab mixture and beet purée ahead of time, but don’t assemble these hors d'oeuvres until just before serving or the apple slices will discolor.

At her restaurant, Lynch includes black truffle in the vinaigrette for this salad, but it's so flavorful as it is that we didn't feel the truffle was necessary.

Use baby beets or the smallest you can find.