Dried Apricot

This version of the much maligned Christmas classic is deliciously lacking in candied cherries, giant mixed nuts and citron, but it is filled with bits of marzipan and lots of appealing dried fruit. Baking the cakes in disposable aluminum loaf pans (available at supermarkets) or in decorative cardboard loaf pans (available at some cookware stores or by mail order) makes gift giving easy; just wrap each cake in its pan in cellophane, and add a colorful ribbon.

Always cool the stuffing completely before filling the turkey.

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

Nice with duck, Cornish game hens or the Thanksgiving turkey.

At the Princeville Hotel on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, a mixture of dried and fresh fruits is used to fill the pork. Begin preparing this dish one day before serving.

Dried cherries and apricots highlight this impressive version of a southern classic.

You might be tempted to bake 2 sheets of cookies at a time in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Don't give in to this urge — the cookies must go in the middle of the oven to cook through and brown evenly.

A natural with pork, the compote is also a sweet topping for ice cream.

The unusual combination of mushrooms and dried apricots makes for a delicious and earthy soda bread.

We couldn't have an American potluck dinner that didn't include at least one thoroughly native dish. The wild rice, hickory nuts, and dried cranberries in this salad are a nod to the potluck's origins.

From the Rainforest Cafe in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Here is a colorful dressing that is baked alongside—rather than inside—the turkey.

A sweet snack, full of chewy dried cherries and apricots, to nibble or wrap as a gift.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.