Thanksgiving

I developed this low-maintenance recipe in my restaurant days, when I needed a big batch of whipped cream to last through the night in a steamy kitchen. The trick is a bit of extra sugar, which helps the cream whip into a stable foam that can be held for up to eight hours.

A 24- to 72-hour dry brine inspired by barbecue flavors gives this spatchcocked bird a ton of flavor, while the bricks (or cinder block!) help press the bird onto the grill for even heat exposure.

Light and buttery, brioche makes a lovely base for fruit in baked pastries—so why not a tart? You can use any fruit or nut here, but this version, with thin slices of apples and plenty of cinnamon, is a fall favorite. If you like, you can fold the edges of the crust over the fruit, like a galette.

Larry the Turkey does double duty at Thanksgiving, letting Larry know where to sit at the beginning of the meal and providing a dessert for him at the end. A delicious combination of pumpkin cupcakes, caramel frosting, and ginger cookies, this turkey will be gobbled up in no time. Of course, the best part is naming each turkey and hearing the kids scream, “Hey, look, everybody, Uncle Larry’s a turkey!”

One trip to the cupcake pumpkin patch, and this project will become a favorite fall tradition. It's a terrific dessert centerpiece for any gathering from Halloween to Thanksgiving. The pumpkin patch boasts both standard and mini cupcakes, and each one is a little different—just like a real pumpkin patch—so you can pick and choose your favorite.

Turn these fall-spiced cupcakes into a Pumpkin Patch–themed holiday centerpiece for Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Tent with foil if it browns too fast.

For fall gatherings—everything from back-to-school to Thanksgiving—this colorful wreath makes an elegant centerpiece. The leaves are created by painting melted candy wafers on maple leaves, letting it harden, then peeling off the leaf to reveal a stunning edible replica.

Japanese sweet potatoes are starchier than yams and worth seeking out. Steaming before grilling keeps them moist.

What’s a honeynut squash, you ask? It looks like a miniature butternut squash and has sweet, firm flesh that stands up to any cooking method.