Cream Cheese

Bake this at least a day before serving.

Reduced-fat cream cheese gives this dish a nice texture. Put out some sliced melon with grapes, and offer coffee and orange juice.

This cheesecake, a delicious contrast of sweet vanilla and tart cranberry, is a scruptious conclusion to any dinner. Whipped cream rosettes are a pretty finish.

A stylish dinner party dish with a bonus: Much of the prep work can be done a day ahead. At the store, have the butcher bone and trim all of the fat and membrane from a 4 3/4-pound center-cut veal rib roast, resulting in a 3-pound oblong boneless veal loin.

You can use whatever fruit you have on hand for this quick, pretty dessert.

This cool indulgence is actually made with light cream cheese and low-fat sour cream. Begin preparing it the day before your party.

Carrot cakes have been a part of American baking for years, and they remain a favorite dessert in the heartland. This version has a hint of orange from the juice and peel and lots of the rich cream cheese frosting that everyone expects (and loves). Thin orange peel strips make a pretty garnish.

For ease of transportation, the cupcakes and icing may be brought on board in separate containers.

That renewal of my acquaintance with marrow led to the invention of a canapé or sandwich filling that I believe to be without a peer as an accompaniment for cocktails. In the beginning I produced small batches, but they vanished with such unbelievable rapidity that I was forced to make them larger and larger. I pass on the recipe willingly, for the good of the human race, which has too long suffered from canapés that either adhere distressingly to the roof of the mouth or result in unsightly toothpicks scattered on the floor.

"The Metropolitan Bakery in Philadelphia makes fabulous breads and other baked goods. My personal favorite is the carrot cake: It's moist and tender, and it's drizzled with a tart lemony icing," says John K. Wildemore IV of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "I hope you can persuade the owner to share this recipe." Olive oil is the surprise ingredient in this recipe. The result is a rich cake that doesn't have even a hint of olive oil taste.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 25 min