American

A flavorful turkey prepared in an interesting way. It is soaked in brine, which helps tenderize the bird, and then rubbed with a citrus-thyme butter. The butter keeps the turkey moist and also enriches the pan drippings for the gravy. The stuffing borrows from the long tradition of corn breads in America. Be sure to make the Giblet Broth before you start roasting the turkey. Pour hard cider throughout dinner. Watch how to prepare and carve your bird with our streaming video demonstration.

In early spring, colonists would tap into sugar maple trees to draw off the smoky-sweet syrup, which was a substitute for expensive imported sugar. Here, the syrup is brushed onto the turkey to add a deep golden finish. New Englanders liked their gravies rich and dark, and often kept a box of browned or "scorched" flour on hand to aid in browning, as well as flavoring and thickening. This delectable gravy borrows that technique. Be sure to start the gravy early in the day. Watch how to prepare and carve your bird with our streaming video demonstration.

This spice-scented compote makes a great accompaniment to the New York cheesecake.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. French fries and purchased ratatouille are perfect with the steaks, and almond cake with fruit compote completes the menu.

A boilermaker is a classic one-two drink consisting of a shot of whiskey followed by a beer chaser. Those ingredients also come together in this all-American barbecue sauce. Use it on ribs, pork chops, chicken, even burgers (brush it on during the last ten minutes of grilling). If making ribs, brush them often during the first part of cooking with a mixture of one part cider vinegar to ten parts water and a pinch of dried crushed red pepper; that will keep them moist. This recipe makes enough for three pounds of meat or poultry and can be doubled easily.

A delicious dessert version of a favorite New Orleans breakfast dish. Pain perdu translates as "lost bread," but you'll find that this is simply a type of French toast.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

An old-fashioned layer cake topped with a lusciously sticky icing.

This recipe can be made in 45 minutes or less.

Cheese fondue originated in Switzerland, but chocolate fondue was a New World recipe created in 1964 by Konrad Egli, a Swiss-born chef working at New York's Chalet Swiss restaurant. Zurich's Toblerone chocolate works well in the dish, because its honey-nougat blend echoes the honey and almond flavoring that are also in the recipe.

A version of the southern classic; this one has a fudgy texture.

With some warm corn bread, this chili is a meal in itself. You wouldn't know there was chocolate in the recipe, but it adds a subtle depth of flavor to the dish.