Winter

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Here's a great drink that is guaranteed to take the chill off a winter day. It's also quite nice with an added splash of brandy or Kahlúa.

The mincemeat adds great flavor and texture to an ever-popular dessert.

Great served warm or at room temperature, this moist, delicious steamed bread can be made in a single loaf pan or in two empty, clean 28-ounce food cans. Offer softened butter or cream cheese alongside.

Romanesco cauliflower — with its cone-shaped florets — has a more subtle, nuanced flavor than traditional varieties. The size of Romanesco cauliflower can vary widely, so we call for weight in this recipe rather than number of heads.

A delicious and much lighter version of a favorite dish. Serve this gratin with roast chicken, pork, or beef.

Rich, flavorful and perfect for the Thanksgiving table. This side dish is great for the cook, too, as it can be made one day ahead.

When preparing beets, trim off all but 1 inch of the roots and the stems. Cooking time may vary, depending on the size of the beet.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Chef Kyle of the Spa at Doral in Miami uses evaporated skim milk in this and many other dishes; it imparts a rich creaminess with almost no fat.

Apple orchards of all kinds can be found throughout the middle of the United States. Interestingly, Red Delicious apples are a heartland original, first discovered in 1872 in Peru, Iowa. They are celebrated here (with their sweeter yellow cousin, the Golden Delicious) in a double-crust pie that's truly a "Delicious" closing to the Thanksgiving feast.

This parsley-based pesto is a nice alternative to the classic basil one--and it's especially handy for December, when there might not be fresh basil at the market. The recipe yields about 1 1/3 cups of sauce.