Baking

It will take about 45 minutes to peel the pearl onions for this recipe. If you're strapped for time, you can substitute 1 1/2 pounds of thawed frozen pearl onions, which won't need to be blanched.

This style of pizza is called "sfincione" in its native Sicily. Precede it with some canned bean soup that has been accented with chopped fresh sage and diced tomatoes. End with strawberries drizzled with Marsala, and pass nougat candies or assorted chocolates.

The dough for these simple cookies can be done ahead and refrigerated for up to two days before being sliced and baked.

Using canned yams in this old-fashioned pie makes it especially easy to prepare.

These cookies are like bite-size Linzertortes. Instead of being cut into triangles as suggested below, the dough can be cut into whatever other shape is preferred.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The filling of coconut, bananas and cream is sweet, chewy and absolutely delicious. Coconut also makes an appearance in the cookie-like crust.

Fresh cherries take center stage in this version of an old favorite.

Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are layered with white chocolate cream and store-bought puff pastry for a beautiful finale.

Because the more traditional dark fruitcakes aren't really to her liking, senior editor Sarah Belk created this one, filled with her favorite nuts and dried fruits. To make these gifts even more festive, she suggest decorating the glazed cakes with additional dried fruits and nuts.

Fred Provenzano of Seattle, Washington, writes: "While in Washington, D.C., for a convention, I discovered a delightful restaurant, The Little Fountain Cafe. It was so good that I went back for dinner two more times during my stay. Can you persuade pastry chef Lauren Cooper to divulge her recipe for chocolate chip bread pudding?" The pudding can be assembled up to one day ahead, then popped into the oven just before you sit down for dinner.