Cinnamon

Madeira is combined with Cointreau, honey and spices in a simple English-inspired hot drink for the holidays.

Cardamom is a spice not commonly used in the United States. A member of the ginger family, this warm, sweet spice is traditionally found in Indian cooking, flavoring a wide variety of curries, rice dishes, and Indian-style desserts. It is best to purchase the pod and grind the seeds yourself; once ground, cardamom begins to lose its essential oils. You can also crush the pods lightly, then add them hearty stews and lentil or other bean soups. The outer pods will dissolve, but the little black seeds within will pleasantly spice the mix. [This mix in used in the recipe for Carrot Cardamom Soup.]

A colorful combination of oranges, berries and kiwis teams up with crunchy biscotti for a delicious and wholesome finale.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

An easy and scrumptious twist on the classic rice pudding from Habitation Lagrange in Martinique.

Here's a great drink that is guaranteed to take the chill off a winter day. It's also quite nice with an added splash of brandy or Kahlúa.

Sopaipillas are crisp fried breads traditionally topped with honey; cinnamon and sugar are sometimes added to make a great dessert. In this recipe, fried tortillas approximate the texture of true sopaipillas.

Rather than being crisp, these heirloom cookies are tender and cake-like.

The most delectable cinnamon rolls Karen Cabral of San Antonio ever tasted are those at the Pecan St. Bakery & Cafe in Blanco, Texas.

A nice accompaniment to grilled sea bass, scallops or shrimp.

"I was 11 years old when I started receiving Gourmet magazine," says Kristi Tursi of Essex Junction, Vermont. "I am now 15, and I’m happy to say that I've tried at least one recipe from each issue. I love to experiment with new combinations of unusual foods. Maybe that is because I enjoy science and chemistry, or perhaps I just love eating delicious yummies! But this year, on my mom's birthday, I tried something cool: cherry chocolate chippers. These cookies are not as dramatic as my chicken mango tango, but they're quite a treat. Everyone at the party liked them so much that I spent part of the evening jotting down the recipe. So I decided to share it with everyone ... by way of Gourmet."

This homespun dessert features a cinnamon-scented cake with a ribbon of chocolate cake running through it.

There will be plenty of leftover biscotti for afternoon coffee breaks.

Adding sour cream to the filling richens the custard and makes it a bit less sweet, allowing the flavor of the pumpkin to come through in this dessert. Any extra pie dough can be cut into pumpkin shapes for a festive garnish on top.