Parsley Pesto

Here is a great addition to a holiday table. Or use it on a more regular basis with roasted chicken or lamb. You can roast the grapes and the shallots at the same time, as long as you watch the individual cooking times; they are different.

This is for anchovy lovers-and we are, so we make a lot. Don't be tempted to halve the recipe: Mashing anchovies takes time and, anyway, there are any number of wonderful ways to use this. Besides salads, spoon it over boiled potatoes, roasted vegetables, steak or roast beef sandwiches, croutons (before you toast them), or reheated pizza. 

This is perfectly wonderful with duck, or another poultry. You might also swirl it into a curried soup for an intriguing bit of additional flavor and body. You could also serve it with soft, ripe cheese, like Brie.

Toasting seeds brings out their flavor, and you will be able to identify the cumin and coriander in the Indian marinade we use here. The longer you marinate the turkey, the better: We suggest 24 hours. You will need several accompaniments to serve with this. The reason we are advocating Yam and Fennel Salad is because it marries beautifully with the turkey. The salad has a pinch of cinnamon in the dressing.

We love croutons at Mangia and make several different kinds. These are the ones we use in our Caesar Salad. Snack on them, add them to soups, toss a few into other green salads. The concern with croutons is not how to use them, but how to keep them in store. They are addictive. 

This can be used in countless ways, and unlike Classic Pesto it can be made year-round because of the availability of parsley. We like this best on sandwiches and panini. The variation with tasty capers with turkey or pork, in particular. 

The bold flavors of Southern Italy- anchovies, black olives, and pancetta- make this sauce a superb foil for simple roast turkey . This is also good on pasta and as a topping for pan-seared cauliflower. Or use it as you would Tapenade -as a dip or a spread for sandwiches and panini.

Cooked onions, especially red onions, sweeten and caramelize and taste totally different from raw onions. This is great used as a spread on sandwiches or panini or served as a condiment with roasted meats and green salads. Some even like it on pasta.

Besides being a great dip and spread,Hummus also makes a tasty stuffed pita sandwich, with the addition of cucumber, red onion, and tomato slices. 

This is retro and wonderful, and nothing at all like the flavored gelatin molds with fruit that you ate as a child. A refreshing mix of fruit teas and fresh berries, it is as pretty as can be and delicious as part of a summer buffet. Just the conversation it generates makes it worth trying!