Looking for something a little different from the usual crostini hors d'oeuvre? How about a sweet potato — sliced into rounds, roasted, and topped with a zingy miso sauce. It's a flavorsome little bite to whet the appetite, plus it's perfect for gluten-free and vegetarian folks.

What's a dinner party without a basket of warm rolls on the table? The softer and fluffier the better, I say. All the better to sop up those last bits of sauce. Here's how I make my absolute favorite, foolproof dinner rolls, a perfect addition to any table.

When I decided to host a casual yet elegant weekend brunch for my book club, I knew immediately that the main dish would be a quiche. For me, quiche is the ultimate special brunch treat, combining flaky, buttery crust with a rich yet light egg custard studded with flavorful mix-ins — in this case, sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil and tangy bits of goat cheese. And while it seems like a lot of work, most of the prep can be done ahead of time, leaving you with plenty of time to get dressed and relax on the morning of the party.

I've been craving opposites lately. I want pasta, but I don't want it to be heavy. I want fresh flavors, but also something savory and comforting. I want vegetables, but I want a bit of meat, too. I blame this in-between weather with its warm days and chilly nights — though I suppose I should actually be thanking the weather because it led to the creation of this dish. Pan-roasted cauliflower and ribbons of prosciutto get folded into a bright but savory tomato cream sauce with pasta. It's a perfect union of all my conflicting opposites.

Every dip, like every food, has a season. So if warm, oozy baked brie is just the thing for winter, what's the best dip to serve come spring? Well, it should be cool and refreshing, and desperately crying for the attention of some crunchy, fresh from the farmers' market crudité. This creamy Parmesan dip — an ode to Caesar dressing — does just that, and more! 

Somehow we survived the year without a dose of Don Draper, and just like a warm spring day, here comes the two-hour season 6 premiere of Mad Men just in time for our happy hour. For those of us who've been patiently filling our Sunday nights with Downton Abbey, Girls, and Walking Dead, it's time to break out your shakers and crack some ice. The guys and gals of Madison Ave are back to drink with us. Are you ready? More importantly is your bar?

I just love a good egg salad sandwich: the creaminess of the eggs and mayo, the crunch of celery, the faint but not overwhelming tang of raw onion.  So perfect!  I go for egg salad when I want the simple, unchallenging comfort of nursery food.  Unless of course I'm feeling a little reckless, in which case out comes the curry powder. But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's nail the classic, uncomplicated egg salad recipe first.

A few years ago my friend Haley requested an "icebox cake" as his birthday dessert of choice. He (yes, he) described a towering black and white confection of stacks upon stacks of chocolate layers nestled between blankets of snowy-white whipped cream. I was excited at the very thought of mastering this mysteriously named "icebox cake." And then I Googled it...

A simple puréed soup is something I turn to often, usually relying on a creamy tomato, but lately I've been relying instead on a lightly-spiced cauliflower soup. Cauliflowers are easy to come by and quite inexpensive at the markets (in Seattle anyway), so as you sit and wait for true spring produce (peas, favas, asparagus!), this is a good recipe to tide you over. 

Whether you choose the toppings or let your guests join in on the fun, pizzas and flatbreads are great crowd pleasers. I'm especially fond of socca, a chewy, crispy, gluten-free flatbread made from chickpea flour. As an appetizer or main course socca can be served plain or topped, like this one for spring. It features an herby, lemony pesto and fresh salad — plus it should even satisfy the worst dinner guest ever!