The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

The Product: Earthy-fruity spice powder with a mild kick.
The Payoff: Hot chocolate with complex, subtle flavor and an intriguing, gentle spiciness.

The product: Kefir is a drink that looks and tastes like yogurt, usually made from cow's milk or goat's milk. It's in the dairy section.
The payoff: Body and tanginess in soups.

The product: Stout (like Guinness) is a rich, dark British beer that's full of flavor.
The payoff: Restaurant-caliber pan sauce.

The product: An orange that's streaked with red throughout and almost seedless.
The payoff: Sweet-tart flavor and pinkish-red color that come together in an easy, sophisticated dessert.

For this colorful and festive starter, be sure to grate the peel from the tangerines before cutting off the rind and slicing them into rounds.

If sake is unavailable, substitute dry vermouth. Miso paste tastes surprisingly good with butter. The red variety has a more pungent flavor than yellow or white miso and is a terrific match for meat.

If canned chipotles are not available, simply use the same amount of chipotle hot sauce. Tilapia, branzino, or petrale sole are other fish that would work in this complete meal.

In this luxurious risotto, leeks take the place of the chopped onions that are traditionally used in the beloved Italian rice dish.

To make baguette breadcrumbs, grind fresh slices, crust on, in a processor.

If making the candy ahead, let it stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

This single recipe is a complete Thanksgiving dinner.

These are just the thing if company's coming on a school night. On the side, add rice, couscous, or orzo tossed with herbs. Try some store-bought sorbet for dessert. Using multicolored grape tomatoes gives the lamb chops extra zip.

To make fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs, cut off the crust from country-style bread. Tear the bread into two-inch pieces and grind in the food processor until the breadcrumbs resemble very coarse sand.