Thanksgiving

If you can't find kumquats, don't panic — the recipe works fine without them. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Even traditionalists will love this pie, which is accented with grated orange peel.

Maple syrup, marjoram, coriander seeds, and lemon peel flavor a do-ahead butter that is spread on the turkey before baking. That same butter is also added to the Madeira-laced gravy. Grape clusters or steamed baby vegetables, such as carrots and squash, make a pretty garnish for the platter.

These delicious strudels can be put together one day before baking.

You'll need six baby loaf pans for this recipe. Look for disposable ones at the market.

With his supersize grill, Chris Schlesinger cooked a whole ham—and scored the skin for a real showstopper presentation—but he suggested a shank half for cooks with standard grills. In order for the flavor of the rub to really penetrate the meat, we removed the skin and most of the fat. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 days

Mole Poblano Mole is very time-consuming to make, but you can begin up to three days ahead. The results are well worth the effort. In Mexico, this is served with rice or unfilled tamales.

The rule for figuring out the proper amount of stuffing is easy to remember — approximately 1 cup per pound of bird. This works very well unless you want stuffing for only one meal, in which case this quantity is excessive. So, starting from the maximum, reduce the among of stuffing to suit your needs.

Western ingredients are particularly well suited to the Thanksgiving feast, as evidenced by this robust, satisfying gravy. It comes from Montana-based Greg Patent, the author of New Cooking from the Old West (Ten Speed Press, 1996), and it has an appealing home-on-the-range quality, thanks to plenty of fresh sage and the smoky taste of bacon. It's rich, delicious and perfect for smothering turkey and potatoes. Follow these directions to make a foolproof gravy no matter what recipe you use for roasting the turkey. Since the broth and giblets can be prepared one day ahead, the last-minute steps are kept to a minimum.

This recipe was created for my ten-year-old friend and cooking student, Evan Chender, who used it for his Thanksgiving feast one year. Fresh ginger really spices up the sweet, meltingly tender yams.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr

This recipe was created to accompany <a></a>Turkey with Sherry Wine Vinegar Gravy .

An elegant finale to the meal; the cake has a light texture, and the filling provides great pumpkin flavor with a hint of orange. Pour a late-harvest Sémillon with dessert.

Cocoa, espresso and orange add a sophisticated note to a classic pecan pie.

Yams are blended with regular russets in a nice rendition of mashed potatoes. If you decide to double the recipe, use a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish.

New York cheesecake is dressed up for the holidays with bright cranberry topping, white chocolate in the filling and a hazelnut crust. The cake can be prepared up to two days ahead.