Fall

This hearty, meaty, sauerkraut-braised dinner takes only 25 minutes in the oven.

Crisp pickled vegetables go brilliantly with cocktails (or with sandwiches, a hunk of cheese, a juicy steak...the possibilities are endless). Fresh ginger and dried chiles give them a bracing boost and orange juice plays up their natural sweetness.

Sure, you could pour a glass of sparkling Prosecco, but turning it into a celebratory punch rich with fruity, tart pomegranate juice and citrus takes things in an even livelier direction.

A simmer and soak in sugar syrup glazes kumquats and liquifies their interiors so they taste like delicious shots of marmalade.

A classic, simple mince pie, devoid of bells, whistles and creative meddling. The pastry is a rich but workable short crust. It won't collapse in the carol singer's mittens. The pies themselves will stand or fall by the quality of mincemeat. Go for broke, Christmas is not the time for parsimony. The little darlings are at their most delicious when eaten warm. Baked a day or more before, they reheat nicely.

Butternut squash is one of my all-time favorite ingredients. It has a beautiful orange color, is very filling, is great for heart health, and perhaps best of all, it’s great for healthy skin and eyes. An ingredient that’s beautiful and makes you beautiful? Yes, please!

Boneless chicken thighs cook in an apple-thyme sauce until they’re tender, then get served on top of a crispy, large-format potato pancake. You’ll finish it off with a squeeze of lemon and fresh herbs.

This dough is too delicate to weave into a true lattice without breaking. Instead, arrange the strips in a crosshatch pattern, crossing over in a few places (it will look just as pretty).

It’s hard to know if a parsnip will have a woody core, but generally speaking, small ones are tender throughout. Worst case scenario? Trim the tough centers before cooking.

Blanching the chopped orange in boiling water before cooking it with the cranberries removes any bitterness from the peel and pith.

Precooking the squash seasons and softens it, but don’t let it get dry or brown. The moisture it retains ensures it will be tender after baking and helps keep the caramel saucy.

Harissa lends both a spiciness and an earthiness to this savory alternative to the usual sweet potato casserole.

Removing the seeds from one of the chiles lessens the punch. If you like more heat, leave them in. If less, scrape out seeds from both chiles.

If you're the type who prefers desserts that go heavy on the fruit, this apple tart's for you.

Figs bring a touch of sweetness to this bright, chutney-ish sauce and nicely offset the sharpness of the vinegar.

Cooking the turkey on a rimmed baking sheet is great for all-over browning, but be very careful as you remove it from the oven so that the drippings don’t slosh over the sides.