Thyme

If you aren't making the schmaltz manié ahead of time, there's no need to form the paste into balls. Simply add the paste by teaspoonfuls to the simmering stock until the gravy has reached the desired consistency.

Celery root (also called celeriac) is one of autumn's most delicious—but least appreciated—vegetables. Here it adds fresh celery flavor to this velvety first-course soup.

Try this seasonal, six-ingredient wonder as a first course for Thanksgiving dinner.

An autumnal, herbaceous twist on the Martini.

This slightly spicy, moist side dish is both deeply satisfying and nutritious. Sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber, giving them a low glycemic index (this means that they slow the body's absorption of sugar and help regulate blood-sugar levels). A bonus for weight watchers: All those complex carbs will make you feel fuller longer than white potatoes do.

Contrary to popular opinion, Thanksgiving turkey, when not butter-basted, can be a healthful centerpiece to the meal. It's a superb source of lean protein, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. To add flavor without adding fat, this recipe uses a garlic-herb rub and a small amount of grapeseed oil, which raises good cholesterol. Another calorie-saving trick: In the gravy, roasted garlic replaces most of the fat from the drippings.

Unlike many stuffings, which are cooked inside the turkey and/or include chicken broth, this wild mushroom version is completely vegetarian. Packed with the robust essence of dried porcini, it will win the approval of everyone at the table.

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.

A few fresh vegetables and a leftover turkey is all you'll need to create this phenomenal soup — perfect for cold nights and holiday nostalgia.

Verjus is a tart grape juice made from unripe wine grapes. Milder than vinegar, it can be used in salad dressings without competing with an accompanying wine the way vinegar does. Look for it at specialty foods stores or online at chefshop.com and terrasonoma.com. What to drink: Pour an Oregon Pinot Noir with the salad and the Herbed Lamb Chops with Pinot Noir Sauce.

You'll have more spice rub than you need for the Grillades . Try this seasoning on fish, pork, or beef dishes.

The grapes and vinegar cook down into a sweet, complex sauce. What to drink: A deep, concentrated red. Try: Rosenblum Cellars 2003 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyards, Paso Robles ($20).

Serve this hearty meal with mustard, a side of mashed potatoes, and ice-cold dark German beer.

While this calls for four herbs, just one or two—rosemary and thyme, for example—would be fine.

We like this butter on grilled steak.

For extra color, use different kinds of plums, such as bright red-fleshed Elephant Hearts, yellow Shiro plums, and pluots. (Avoid using Santa Rosas, which don't retain their shape when cooked.)

Because the vinegar is simply drizzled over the radicchio at the end, try to find an artisan-quality balsamic, such as one labeled condimento, if not a premium balsamico tradizionale. Radicchio is also good when grilled on a barbecue or in a stovetop grill pan. Oil the grill or grill pan and cook until wilted and slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes.