Grape

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20's — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Over the years, my cooking style has become more casual; I make dishes that are not too demanding, but still special for company."

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

Mix some chilled club soda into the leftover wine marinade for a refreshing drink.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Definitely not Ye Olde English Classic, but very delicious and very contemporary. Using store-bought sponge cake (ask for it at your supermarket bakery) or pound cakes simplifies assembly.

Pack the fruit and sauce separately, and keep the sauce chilled.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The traditional apple, walnut and chopped celery salad is updated with a yogurt and low-fat mayonnaise citrus dressing, pine nuts and Cajun seasoning.

A low-fat but tasty version of a typically calorie-laden favorite.

An easy side dish for ham or chicken. The dressing can be made a day ahead.

(FRAGOLE ED UVE CON MENTA E VINIGLIA) This colorful salad is accented with mint, a favorite ingredient in native cooking.

Fresh fruit marinated in Scotch and sugar is a lovely topper for the purchased cake.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

A refreshing dessert on its own or spooned over vanilla ice cream. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.