The sausages are broiled quickly then covered with mustard, which helps cut through much of the fat. The apple compote obviously adds some sweetness but some cinnamon and ginger also give it depth. The crunchy, bitter watercress fights valiantly against all of it, making for a stunning and quick dinner. More

Perfect for autumn, this Spanish-style salad combines peppery arugula, juicy apples, crunchy almonds and Manchego, the deliciously piquant sheep's milk cheese from the region of La Mancha in Spain. Tossed in a cider vinaigrette, it's got that salty-sweet-tangy flavor combination that everyone loves. More

When I'm trying to pinch pennies, I often turn to random grains from the bulk bin of my grocery store. One cup goes a long way, and you're hard pressed to find any accoutrements that push a grain dish into the land of the lavish. But humble as grains may be, there's still something a little surprising about serving barley in place of rice, or bulgur instead of standard pasta. More

Main dish salads are tricky to pull off, especially around this time of year when you can't just dump a butch of ripe tomatoes into a bowl with lettuce and call it a dinner. With autumn here, a little extra effort is required. But it also means the results can be even more soulful and satisfying. That's especially true for this salad from Bon Appétit, which mixes roasted butternut squash with French green lentils. More

[Illustrations: Helen Jane Hearn] This cool roasted cauliflower dish goes well with the highly spiced oven braised ribs from the elegant zombie dinner party not only because it's a mild accompaniment but also because the individual florets resemble brains. Braaaiiins.... More

Everything came together quickly with the use of a food processor for shredding the beets and apples, and the vinaigrette whips up in a snap. The resulting fall salad is tangy, crunchy, and sweet but not cloying. The texture alone makes it a winner. More

This salad involves leftover turkey and cranberries, some lettuce, and Fritos. And here you thought Frito pie was the only excuse to eat Fritos on a plate with a utensil. More