Pecan

This recipe came to be when I was preparing risotto and realized I was out of Arborio rice; I used barley instead. The results were so delicious that I now prefer this version.

The preserves keep these moist and tender.

Two toppings — one mint, one chocolate — accent these luscious treats. Serve them with your choice of fresh fruit. Wrap the brownies in foil, and pack the fruit in an airtight plastic container.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

A flavorful turkey prepared in an interesting way. It is soaked in brine, which helps tenderize the bird, and then rubbed with a citrus-thyme butter. The butter keeps the turkey moist and also enriches the pan drippings for the gravy. The stuffing borrows from the long tradition of corn breads in America. Be sure to make the Giblet Broth before you start roasting the turkey. Pour hard cider throughout dinner. Watch how to prepare and carve your bird with our streaming video demonstration.

This is a wonderful combination of cookie and candy, with the crumbly crust serving as counterpoint to the chewy caramel topping. For a nice presentation, place the cookies in paper candy cups, and set the cups in a basket; wrap clear cellophane around the basket, tie it up with raffia and decorate it with pine cones. Save the irregularly shaped leftover cookies to enjoy as a snack.

A version of the southern classic; this one has a fudgy texture.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"My mother makes the most delicious chocolate caramel graham crackers," writes Barbara Walt Gustin of Kalamazoo, Michigan. "Everyone who tries them goes wild. They're so easy to make that the recipe gets passed on and on." Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Dulce de leche is a soft milk-caramel confection that is yet again one of the year's top flavors. If you don't have time to make the sauce, look for it with the ice cream toppings at the market. Note that the baked cheesecake must be chilled overnight before serving.

Made with heavy cream and gelatin instead of eggs, this no-bake cheesecake has the silky texture of panna cotta. Begin preparing it at least one day ahead.

This cake has a crunchy pecan-brown sugar topping and a layer of pears in the middle.

These sweet and spicy nuts — which go great with drinks — would make a nice hostess gift.