Serve tapenade, the Provençal olive paste, with croutons or raw vegetables.

Cutting the start-to-finish time of Jim Lahey’s no-knead bread seemed worth a try: this shortcut recipe can be done in an afternoon.

Julia Moskin replies to another set of reader questions on rice cookers.

A glistening fish covered in julienne ginger root and scallions makes a perfect weeknight dinner.

In the western part of the state, you can push yourself to the physical limit by day and relax with a good meal (and an even better glass of wine) at night.