Fall

Sweet and tart at the same time, the compote is spooned atop creamy chilled custard for a satisfying Italian dessert.

This easy dressing makes a great side dish for roast chicken or fried pork chops.

Salsa de Tomatillos y Lima This tart, mildly spicy, and bright green salsa is so delicious that you might want to double the recipe to have extra on hand. It's great mixed into guacamole or veggie sautés (for a little tangy kick). Or try it as a topping for anything from nachos to scrambled eggs to baked potatoes. This recipe is an accompaniment for Oval Masa Cakes with Goat Cheese Filling .

A modern version of a childhood favorite.

Caramelizing the top of this pudding adds an extra depth of flavor, but it's equally delicious without doing it. A blowtorch works best here; the broiler didn't give us the uniform browning we wanted.

This sensational dish is best when made with meaty short ribs that are three to four inches long. Serve with a simple green salad and glasses of good Zinfandel.

Probably the Shakers' greatest gift to American cookery was their knowledge and liberal use of herbs, which were relied upon to vary and enliven standard dishes. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The recipe calls for both chicken broth and beef broth, but using either one or the other will give an equally good result.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Pumpkin adds beautiful color to the all-American cheesecake while pecan praline makes a southern-style topping. Begin preparing this cake a day ahead.

The 1970s saw perhaps the biggest change in cooking in this century. That's when a group of talented young chefs in France came up with "nouvelle cuisine," emphasizing fresh ingredients, elegant presentation, and interesting and unusual combinations of foods and flavors. American chefs quickly imported it and made it into something uniquely their own. For our take on this landmark in contemporary cooking, we've shaped purchased puff pastry into individual tartlet, filled them with pistachio frangipane and sliced pears, and topped it all off with a sweet-wine glaze.

Perfect at the end of a fall meal. Top the dessert with sweetened whipped cream, or team it with scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Cajun flavors—andouille sausage, corn bread, red bell pepper and cayenne pepper—combine in an excellent side dish that brings color and spice to the Thanksgiving table.