Fennel

Feel free to add, subtract, or substitute any raw or cooked vegetables you'd like, but make sure there's a good variety of textures and colors.

Serve this delicate salad as a first course or alongside grilled chicken. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

"While driving along the California coast, we stopped at River's End, in Jenner," say Susan and Malcolm Duncan of Waco, Texas. "The fennel slaw was addictive, and we're not even fennel people. Do you think you could get the recipe?"

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Italians like to have salad after the entrée, so do the same, if you like.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Roasting tones down the sharpness of the fennel and enhances the sweetness of the pears in this salad. The pears also combine with balsamic vinegar to make a delicious dressing without much added fat.

Eric: If you have to make mussel broth for another recipe and don't know what to do with all the leftover mussels, this dish is the perfect solution. On the other hand, if you want to make this salad and don't have a use for the broth, just freeze it. Maguy: The crunchy diced vegetables contrast perfectly with the softness of the mussels, even though it's not the wonderful moules marinière of my childhood.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is made with homemade pasta at the inn. Our easy alternative uses cooked lasagne noodles cut into squares. From the Inn at Perry Cabin, St. Michaels, Maryland. Watch how to make your own pasta for ravioli with our hands-on streaming video demonstration.

Ideal for any spring occasion.

At the restaurant, this spectacular starter also has a tomato confit vinaigrette. Here, we've substituted chopped seeded peeled tomatoes to simplify the recipe.

(MIXED SALAD)

A mixed vegetable stew, seasoned with spices characteristic of Morocco. Serve it with rice or couscous.