Winter

Add a little drama to the Fresh Orange Tart with Hazelnut Crust with a garnish of candied blood orange slices.

This fresh side is a delicious alternative to cranberry sauce.

A coarse grating of pecorino cheese adds a little creaminess and tang to this dish, but it's equally delicious without it.

Using frozen winter squash purée makes putting together this soup extremely speedy; then just let it simmer while the turkey roasts. The lime juice may seem like an unusual Thanksgiving ingredient, but its tart flavor gives a lift to the sweetness of the squash and tempers the spicy toasted pumpkin seeds. The seeds themselves are addictive, so if you think you might want to have extra around for noshing, consider doubling that recipe. They will keep for at least a week or two in an airtight container—if they last that long!

It is critical that you use smoked — not regular—paprika in this dish. Whether you use sweet or hot, you will end up with irresistible sweet potatoes.

Given the popularity of crème brûlée, this luscious side dish — with its not-too-sweet custard and crunchy caramelized sugar — is sure to be a hit. If you're making an entire menu in a single oven, you'll need to make the brûlée ahead and reheat it while the turkey stands (see cooks' note, below).

The bright, tender fruit of Fuyu persimmons mellows the intensity of cranberries while lending this sauce a beautiful jewel-like hue. Using Fuyus, which can be eaten hard or soft, removes the guesswork of finding ripe fruit.

This sauce, a mix of everyday and exotic, provides a sweet and tart contrast to rich meat or poultry.

This vegetarian gravy is layered with bold flavors — from the onions to the roasted mushrooms and barley — each of which makes a real statement. Even our carnivorous food editors agree it's one of the best gravies they've ever tasted.

This luxurious soup soothes on a wintry day, warming the palate with rich duck confit, sweet root vegetables, and earthy barley. Pearl barley, by definition, has had some of its bran removed, but we found that different brands varied widely. Higher-fiber varieties will have a slightly longer cooking time.

A fun idea: Paper-thin slices of white vegetables are dressed with an Italian blue cheese vinaigrette.

Chunks of fresh cranberries and dark, milk, and white chocolate chips dress up oatmeal cookies for the holidays.

A touch of cream Sherry amplifies the sweetness of the nuts and the squash.

To preserve their vibrant color and pure flavors, cook the greens just until they are slightly wilted. The ribs of the greens should retain some crispness.

Boston brown bread is in the canned-vegetable aisle of most supermarkets.

Because Gruyère is somewhat salty, use unbrined roast turkey in this dish. Also, and old-fashioned turkey gravy (no cider or soy sauce) will enhance the gratin best.