Poach

When buying fresh apricots, look for fruit that is plump, fragrant, and gives a little when squeezed. Poaching time depends on the ripeness of the fruit.

Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 50 min

The tea adds an elegant complexity to the sauce for the pears, dried apricots, and cherries. Using dried tart cherries instead of Bing cherries helps balance the sweetness.

Melting the chocolate in the pear poaching liquid makes an instant sauce.

The parfaits can be made a day ahead.

This is a cozy, fireside kind of winter dessert. The lightness of the fruit and flaky phyllo balance the rich Madeira custard sauce.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

We enjoyed this dish served at room temperature, but it is also delicious warm.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Eggs are a staple of the Turkish diet. An ingredient in many dishes, they are also prepared on their own as a main course for lunch or as an appetizer for dinner. Here they are poached, set on a bed of yogurt (another staple) and drizzled with a red pepper-sage butter. The red pepper that fires up Turkish cooking - a cross between paprika and dried crushed red pepper - is much more popular than black pepper, especially outside the large cities.