Make Ahead

Thyme adds a holiday touch to these light, buttery biscuits.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Just right for an elegant meal.

Root vegetables were often used to lend sweetness to eighteenth-century cakes and puddings. The carrot cake layers in this recipe are sandwiched with marmalade and iced with a cream cheese frosting.

A nice do-ahead starter for an elegant meal.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

These can be prepared one week ahead.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

Because the beans need to be soaked overnight, start making this a day or two before you plan to serve it.

Cream of coconut is added to the batter and the whipped cream frosting. You can make and chill the cake up to one day ahead.

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20s — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Over the years, my cooking style has become more casual; I make dishes that are not too demanding, but still special for company."

Frangipane is a classic pastry filling with ground almonds. Here, pistachios are also added. Both the pastry and the filling can be made one day before baking.