Christmas

This makes one large crème brûlée for sharing. Prepare the custard up to a day ahead, and chill the topping for at least one hour. Set out small plates and a large serving spoon so that guests can help themselves.

"The recipes here reflect my British roots, but not necessarily my family traditions," writes Mairi Morrison of London, England. "Although my mother is from Scotland and my father is from Northern Ireland, I grew up in Los Angeles, where our weeknight meals were typically American: spaghetti, tacos, and burgers. It wasn't until I moved to Europe that I became really interested in food. Here in London my social life is centered around the table. I really like this dish because it is typically British, and perfect for a rainy winter evening in London." This inventive, super-easy glaze is made by mixing fresh mint with purchased mango chutney and mint jelly.

You'll need six baby loaf pans for this recipe. Look for disposable ones at the market.

The perfect appetizer with Champagne.

To recall the miracle of Hanukkah, dishes fried in oil are prepared during the holiday festivities. The mother of our executive editor used to dazzle her family with these cookies-each one slightly different from the next.

Crown roasts are often done with pork, but lamb also makes for a festive presentation—and it's a delicious change of pace. Request the roasts from the butcher ahead of time, since they are usually prepared to order. Pour a Syrah with dinner if you've chosen this main course.

"I make a variety of candies for holiday gifts, and I always include these," writes Chloe Chapman of Portland, Oregon. "A friend of mine from the South, says that the filling tastes just like penuche, a creamy fudge-like candy made with brown sugar and butter." For proper texture, it’s important to cool the candy mixture to 112°F (but no cooler).

You can sometimes find candied orange peel in stores, but it is typically thicker, chewier, and more moist than candied zest. It will also never have the intense citrusy flavor of candied zest you make yourself.

We thought we would update the popular Cosmopolitan by substituting Champagne for the usual lemon vodka. We garnished the drinks with skewers of sugar-coated fresh cranberries (thawed frozen ones will work just fine, too).

Looks pretty and tastes great. If you can find fresh raspberries at this time of year, layer them with the other fruits.

Outstanding on their own, but even better with <epi:recipe link="" id="5779">Ginger Butter</epi:recipe>.

This recipe is perfect for Christmas Day breakfast since it can be completely assembled the night before and then baked in one batch in the oven.

We recommend tempering the chocolate used for coating the patties, as it will result in glossier, firmer shells. Experiment with your favorite cookie cutters to create original patty shapes.

New York cheesecake is dressed up for the holidays with bright cranberry topping, white chocolate in the filling and a hazelnut crust. The cake can be prepared up to two days ahead.

There are few places where chestnuts are cooked with more style and appreciation than in those states just below New England. Here they are added to a traditional stuffing, enhanced by mushrooms and herbs.