Cranberry

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Bright ribbons of cranberry puree swirled through a creamy white cheesecake create a pretty contrast. Begin the cake a day ahead.

A nice accompaniment to roasted pork, venison, game birds or turkey.

Honey and mint are the special ingredients in this lovely lamb dish.

Tart cranberries provide delicious contrast to the rich nut filling.

The piquancy comes from fresh thyme and just a bit of Dijon mustard.

Serve this quick treat with heavy cream or vanilla ice cream.

Use firm, dense apples such as Granny Smith, Fuji, or Pippin, which will hold their shape when cooked. Fresh ginger gives this sauce its gentle bite—don’t substitute the ground kind.

Fresh orange juice always makes the best cranberry relish. Zest whole oranges before squeezing them for juice.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 3 hr The walnuts in this recipe aren't crucial to its success — some of us like these buns with nuts, others prefer them without. So the choice is yours.

Thanks to the native Wampanoags, the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620 were quickly introduced to such important New World foods as cranberries and corn. The newcomers returned the favor by planting apples, which flourished and were soon available in many American varieties. This wonderful holiday pie, with its cornmeal crust and mixed-fruit filling, celebrates that early culinary sharing. It's a delicious combination of some of our most traditional American flavors.