Nutmeg

Here is the perfect present for those who indulge in holiday eggnog — a mixture of spirit and spice to blend into the Christmas beverage. To make the gift complete, pour it into a beautiful bottle and tie a small nutmeg grater and some whole nutmegs around the neck with a festive ribbon.

Coffee cakes rank among the most popular of comfort foods, welcomed at breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and as the name indicates, coffee breaks. A coffee cake batter is generally more liquid than a quick bread one and contains a bit more sugar, and as a result, the final product is lighter and moister. On the other hand, coffee cakes tend to be less sweet than butter cakes. There are many versions of kuchen, this streusel-topped sour cream type being a very popular one. It is commonly served at the meal following Yom Kippur, or Shavuot, and on Sabbath afternoons or the melaveh malcha ("accompanying the queen") party following the Sabbath. For the later occasion, spices are added to the batter and topping, reflecting those used during the havdallah ceremony signaling the end of the Sabbath.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Good home-cured hams could be found in every colony, but those of Smithfield, Virginia, were considered among the finest, and their reputation remains stellar today. According to a 1926 law, genuine Smithfield hams must be cured, smoked and aged for a year within the Smithfield city limits. Madeira was a popular Colonial beverage — George Washington's favorite — although for a time it was boycotted because of British taxation.

Healthy bonus: Vitamin C and beta-carotene from the squash

These look very pretty when presented on a plate of sliced strawberries.

"Four-spices" usually include four of five spices and are commonly used to season forcemeats for sausages and terrines. I include all five. This is one combination of spices that I try to keep on hand in small quantities. This recipes is a suggestion; quantities and proportions given are typical but not written in stone. Vary the amounts to suit your own palate.

Indian Spice Mix This recipe makes more garam masala than you'll need for the baked rice. You can use what's left over for other Indian dishes or to give everyday meals a flavor boost. It's great stirred into ground beef for burgers or rubbed onto skinless boneless chicken breasts. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 10 min

We found this recipe in Austin Leslie's cookbook. It is from his mother, Ruby — she was Aunt Helen's sister and assisted her at Chez Helene and its predecessor, Howard's Eatery. Although Leslie served the bread pudding with a rum hard sauce, we prefer it with a dollop of crème fraîche.

Carrot Torte This cake is from the Veneto region in northern Italy. Use the sweetest, most flavorful organic carrots you can find—otherwise it will be a big "so what."

Tender banana cake, Cream Cheese Frosting and Mango Curd (see recipes) stack up to one impressive dessert.

This seasonal take on a Puerto Rican favorite adds pumpkin purée and a touch of warm spice for an autumnal flair.

This boozy pie tastes like a Hallmark Christmas movie—you know, in the best way.

The sweetened condensed milk adds a decadent richness to the custard, while the perfect ratio of spices highlights the flavors of the pumpkin. 

Just a sprinkle of this hot, warm, and sweet spice blend will enhance any dish—especially when you take a few minutes to make it yourself. 

Pumpkin Spice Bread gets all grown up thanks to the addition of fresh ginger in this super-moist no-fuss bread with a crunchy pumpkin seed topping.