Sherry

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

An appealing dish from Matt's in the Market in Seattle, Washington.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe was created to accompany Blue Cheese and Walnut Soufflés with Red Pepper Vinaigrette . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Crab and mushrooms have always made good dining companions, but never more so than in this velvety soup. Serve it as the first course at a dinner party or as the centerpiece of a soup supper, with corn bread on the side.

Try a glass of Rioja and some crusty bread with this lovely autumn dish.

For a casual supper, broil rounds of prepared polenta roll, and toss romaine lettuce with oil and vinegar; end with cheesecake. For a special dinner, have broccoli spears with browned butter and orzo pilaf with Parmesan. Buy a hazelnut dacquoise or other fancy cake from the bakery for a great dessert.

Nicola, Steve's wife, likes this dessert more than any of his others, mostly because you have to eat it with yet more Pedro Ximénez sherry. If you don't want to splash out on the real McCoy, use another good, sweet dark sherry.

The two-pronged cooking method used for these wings —incorporating both braising and deep-frying — is a takeoff on the Chinese technique of steaming, then frying. We think it keeps the meat unbelievably tender while getting the skin supercrispy. Be sure to allow 2 hours for the wings to marinate.