The Italians celebrate spring by eating raw fava beans which have been dipped in a light mixture of olive oil and freshly ground black pepper. I believe that the best way to enjoy fresh vegetables is from the garden to the table, with as little cooking as possible. What could be better than fresh - picked garden peas eaten right from the pod, or freshly gathered ears of summer corn roasted over the grill, or a ripe tomato eaten from the vine in your own garden?

Sometimes a meal of occasion will call for a vegetable preparation different from steaming or grilling, however. On those occasions, the following recipes offer for some of the most delicious and elegant ways of preparing a variety of vegetables and other side dishes that I know of.