1. Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and 1/2 tsp. salt and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are very soft, 5 to 10 minutes; reduce heat, if necessary, to keep onions from browning.

2. Add garlic and cook, uncovered, until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in paprika and cook 1 minute. Add lentils, peppers, tomatoes, and 1 1/3 cups broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer, cover, and cook until lentils are extremely soft, about 30 minutes.

3. In 3 batches, whirl soup in a blender until very smooth, at least 3 minutes per batch. Add dry milk and vinegar to the last batch. Stir together and season with salt and vinegar to taste; add a little more broth if soup seems too thick.

4. Serve topped with a sprinkle of almonds and a drizzle of almond oil if you like.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1 1/2-cup serving.

1. Bring meat to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cut through meat horizontally (parallel to work surface) to within 1/2 in. of other side. Lay meat open like a book and spread with mustard, then top with basil and sage leaves. Sprinkle with thyme leaves, garlic, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper.

2. Close up roast and tie with cotton string at 1-in. intervals. Rub all over with oil and sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.

3. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect medium heat, using a drip pan filled halfway with warm water. Grill beef over indirect-heat area, covered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 130° to 135° for rare, 60 to 70 minutes. Transfer beef to a platter and let rest 20 minutes.

4. Remove string. Top beef with herb sprigs. Slice and add salt and pepper to taste.

1. In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add shallots and sprinkle with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are well browned all over, about 20 minutes.

2. Add walnuts, Vin Santo, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until shallots are tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover, turn heat to medium-high, and cook until liquid is reduced and almost completely evaporated. Serve warm.

* Vin Santo is sold at liquor stores; substitute Madeira, Marsala, Port, or any other sweet wine, if you prefer.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

1. To make parmesan rafts, cut baguette into diagonal slices 1/4 inch thick and 4 to 6 inches long. Lightly brush both sides of each slice with olive oil, using 3 to 4 tablespoons total. Arrange in a single layer in 2 shallow 12- by 17-inch baking pans.

2. Bake in a 325° regular or convection oven for 5 minutes. Sprinkle slices evenly with 1 cup shredded parmesan. Bake until cheese is melted and bread is golden, 10 to 12 minutes longer.

3. In a blender or food processor, whirl 9 tablespoons olive oil, 1/3 cup shredded parmesan, lemon juice, anchovies, garlic, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until smooth.

4. Place lettuce in a large bowl and parmesan rafts in another. Drizzle 2/3 of the dressing over lettuce and remaining 1/3 over rafts. Mix rafts to coat with dressing; with your hands or two spoons, gently lift and mix lettuce to coat.

5. Divide 1/3 of the lettuce equally among dinner plates, arranging all leaves on each plate in the same direction. Arrange 1/3 of the parmesan rafts equally on top, at right angles to leaves, and add 1/3 of the parmesan curls. Repeat to layer remaining lettuce, rafts, and curls. Season salads to taste with more salt.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place butter in a 9-inch round cake pan; place in oven 2 minutes or until butter melts. Remove pan from oven.

Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of pan. Arrange pear slices and pecan halves spoke-like over sugar; set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat sugar, butter, egg, and extracts with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream and half of flour mixture; beat well. Add remaining flour mixture and milk; beat well. Pour batter over pear slices, spreading gently. Bake at 350° for 30 to 33 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack 5 minutes.

Run a sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen cake. Place a serving plate upside-down over pan; invert cake onto serving plate. Serve warm or cool completely.