Eating

It's smooth, it's rich-but-light, it's sweet-without-sugar. It's fresh and fragrant. And it's ready to serve at room temperature or chilled. Extremely refreshing and satisfying.

How many times has Mom cooked for you? How many times have you cooked for Mom? Hmmmm. Five suggestions for dishes you can prepare in advance. Today. When Mom's not watching. And all of them travel well.

It's festive. It's colorful. The flavor of fresh, sweet, mellow corn. The hot pop of tiny flecks of hot chile pepper. The top half's an astonishingly light cornbread, almost soufflé-like. The bottom half's the silkiest, lightest pudding.

Started out as a quick, tongue-in-cheek dinner. Turned out to be an unusually luscious, even luxurious, pizza. At least the second best thing you'll put in your mouth all day. Hard to believe every pizzeria doesn't make this. But you can. Easily.

Tastes and smells Way too good to be so good for you. A whole-grain bread that's not heavy. A profoundly great bread full of wildly healthy walnuts. A big, hearty bread you make without kneading dough. Just 30 seconds of stirring. Honest.

Another great reason to grow your own herbs, even if you only have a window sill. Transform a few great just-laid eggs from the Farmers Market with the vibrant flavors of everything fresh and just-picked. Doesn't matter which flavors. The more the merrier.

One of the very best Ways to eat leftover chicken. No reheating. No drying. Preserves juiciness and adds a complementary flavor that makes cold chicken as delicious as hot-out-of-the-oven chicken.

Twenty minutes to transform humble potato and just-picked spring peas and leeks into a luscious, satisfying and magical dinner. $1.50 for a big, impressive, aromatic serving. Then dance for an hour and burn all 300 calories.

Your eyes and nose are partying. Your mouth is thrilled. Soft, rich, luscious polenta with the firm favas' sweetness and the crunchy walnuts', well, nuttiness. Slicked with olive oil and sea salt. Delicious, satisfying, packed with vegetable protein.