Gourmet

We doubt you'll have any leftovers from this homey blueberry cake crowned by a buttery, brown-sugar-sweetened streusel topping, but if you do, it will make a fabulous companion to your morning coffee.

My dad grew up in the Bronx of the 1920s and was very fond of the yeasty crumb cakes found in many German-Jewish bakeries there. He calls the moist, tender cakes "crumb buns" and loves to eat them with a cup of coffee.

Dada was as patient as she was precise in demonstrating how to make makaruni (Istrian gnocchi). We tried our best to mimic her nimble hands as she expertly kneaded and rolled the dough. It isn't easy, but it's so satisfying once you get the hang of it. And you will.

This ingenious technique cooks the chicken in a purse with its own juices and a mix of spices. It slowly simmers the bird to a silky richness—an enticing side of chicken that we rarely see.

If you're making this entire menu in a single oven, put the souffléed gnocchi in the oven to bake after the fennel and carrots have been roasting for 10 minutes.

Fresh pineapple conjures up images of sunshine, so what better way to cheer up a winter day than with a galette made with golden yellow wedges layered over buttery pastry? Today's pineapples tend to be quite sweet, so just a hint of cinnamon and sugar is all you'll need to bring out their bright flavor.

This beautiful pastis — a sweet phyllo-wrapped pie that evolved in southwest France from the savory meat-filled _b'stilla_s of Morocco — makes an impressive holiday dessert.

Using miso on the turkey is a great way to get wonderfully moist meat — always a challenge at Thanksgiving. The skin doesn't get as crisp as it would without, but we think the succulent results are well worth the trade-off. The miso won't give the turkey an Asian flavor, but it will add a rich meatiness to the gravy. Don't use a brined or kosher turkey for this recipe or the bird will be too salty (miso has a high sodium content).

These dumplings are delicious whether you put the classic pleats in them or not.

There are many stories about the origins of this cake, known as both Clichy cake and Opéra cake. Many believe that Louis Clichy was its creator because he premiered the gâteau, with his name written across the top, at the 1903 Exposition Culinaire in Paris. It became the signature cake of Clichy's shop on the Boulevard Beaumarchais. However, another pastry shop, Dalloyau, sold a very similar dessert, known as L'Opéra (in honor of the Paris Opera), and some claim that theirs was the original.

While sugarcane vinegar is more often used in the Philippines, apple cider vinegar makes a good substitute if you can't find it.

This request and recipe originally appeared in the "You Asked for It" section of the February 1961 issue of Gourmet magazine. It was reprised later in the online series "The Way We Cooked: Vintage Gourmet." Q. I could not locate any recipes for whale steak in your cookbooks. Miss Armida Formichelli
Arlington, Massachusetts A. Mostly because we couldn't locate a whale—and still haven't. But if you find one, we have a recipe.

Though modern spins on this recipe classic often contain anchovies or anchovy paste, the original did not. Its delicate anchovy flavor came from Worcestershire sauce. To ensure that things move smoothly, have all ingredients measured and ready to go at the outset.

Croutons can be tricky. The store-bought versions are often too large, too salty, and too garlicky. So I prefer to make my own. I usually make several batches of croutons and store them in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer so I'll have them on hand. They taste "just-made" for weeks.

Move over, ice pops: There's a new dessert making waves this summer. A blend of just four ingredients, these frozen pops are irresistibly creamy, with a sweet and tangy taste. Opt for our lemony take on this kid-friendly dessert, or substitute in Key limes, grapefruit, or orange for your own citrus twist.

Take one bite of the crisp cookies known as fekkas and you're inhaling the perfumes of the Middle East: orange-flower water, anise, sesame seeds, and toasted almonds.

We get a little weak-kneed with delight around cakes, particularly cakes whimsically shaped to look like something else—in this case, a Yule log. Made famous in France as Bûches de Noël, these sheet cakes, filled, rolled, and frosted to look like the trunks of trees, complete with the stumps of sawed off branches, provide creative cooks the very real opportunity to play with their food. Want a few woodsy meringue mushrooms made from meringue to continue the conceit? Why not? No offense to the French, but we think this Italian version, brushed with an espresso syrup, filled with whipped cream lightened mascarpone cheese, and encased in a serious chocolate ganache, which lends itself well to sculpting, is just about the best we've ever had. Buttercream frosting is good—we know only too well from licking many bowls of it clean—but ganache is easier to make and even better to eat! Editor's Note: This recipe is part of Gourmet's Modern Menu for A Christmas Classic. Menu also includes Herb-Crusted Beef Rib Roast with Potatoes, Carrots, and Pinot Noir Jus and Green Beans with Caramelized Pecans .

Nothing says Christmas quite like a standing beef rib roast. For starters, it's got good bones. And those bones give it stature—there's nothing petite about this hunk of beef—so it is a commanding presence on your holiday table. That other holiday favorite, beef tenderloin, can't begin to compare in brawn or beefiness. The rib meat has the most marbling in the steer, and it's that marbling that gives the roast its deep, minerally essence. The Pinot Noir jus condenses a bottle of wine into a richly hued and nuanced sauce that not only complements the roast but cuts through its richness. And while the beef rests after its turn in the oven, a minor amount of its marvelous rendered fat anoints carrots and potatoes, which helps goad them toward their own golden goodness. Editor's Note: This recipe is part of Gourmet's Modern Menu for A Christmas Classic. Menu also includes Green Beans with Caramelized Pecans and Tiramisu Yule Log .

Watch out, potato chips. Kale chips are this year's latest craze in the snack department. Suddenly they seem to be everywhere, and for a hefty price. You won't believe how easy these crisps are to make at home for a fraction of the cost, and the Parmigiano and freshly ground pepper seasoning complements the kale beautifully. Bet you can't eat just one! Take it from us: When it comes to kale chips, curly kale beats Tuscan kale. Editor's Note: This recipe is part of Gourmet's Modern Menu for A New Years' Eve Pasrty. Menu also includes Turkish Spiced Meatballs with Pomegranate Yogurt Sauce and Bite-Size Chipotle Chicken Soft Tacos (tinga de pollo) .