Roasted bell peppers make an alluring appetizer doused with olive oil and a dash of balsamic vinegar, with sweet golden raisins and salty capers in the mix. Agrodolce in Italian means sweet and sour.

For many years, yellow raisins have been a welcome sweet, chewy element in my coleslaw concoctions. I toss them in higgledy-piggledy, without the traditional soak in hot water to make them tender.

Ribbons of collards are combined with plump raisins, crunchy almonds and a splash of vinegar in a side that's swift and easy enough for any day of the week. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds ...