Whiskey

Red-cooking is a Chinese method of braising in a soy sauce-based liquid. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Sweet corn shows up at New York City's Mesa Grill in many guises, including, at meal's end, a memorable ice cream created by pastry chef Wayne H. Brachman. Our version of chef Brachman's dessert differs from the original only in texture (we opted for a smooth ice cream rather than a kernel-studded one).

Brussels sprouts sautéed with bacon are good served alongside. Pour a Zinfandel, Syrah or Chardonnay during the meal.

"I had lunch at a historic spot in Berryville, Virginia, called the Battletown Inn," says Judy Owens of Round Hill Virginia. "For dessert, I ordered bourbon walnut pie. If chef Robin Smith would share her recipe, I know that baking the pie during the holidays would become a family tradition." The sweetness of the filling is offset nicely by the bourbon. Serve the dessert with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Dried cherries and apricots highlight this impressive version of a southern classic.

Serve with the Double-baked Potatoes and steamed broccoli. What to drink: Cabernet Sauvignon. Have angel food cake with sliced strawberries for dessert.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 5 hr

Instead of serving coffee, alter the usual dessert routine by offering a glass of Cognac or dry Sherry with these apples.

Peaches sweetened with brown sugar fill pecan-studded biscuits — a southern-style twist on an all-American favorite.

This variation on the classic Irish apple cake has a top and bottom crust made from a biscuit-like dough. You can cut this cake into wedges or dish it out with a spoon like a cobbler.

A treat for mint julep fans. Traditional silver mint julep cups or frozen parfait glasses add a nice accent at serving time.

Fresh fruit marinated in Scotch and sugar is a lovely topper for the purchased cake.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

This dessert was inspired by my good friend and great Cajun chef Paul Prudhomme. He prepares his with sweet potatoes, which are available year-round, and hence, give his version a longer seasonal shelf life than mine. If there's anything better than pumpkin pie or pecan pie, it's the two of them together. The whiskey butter adds a thoroughly Cajun twist to this sweet ending.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Corn muffins, coleslaw and boiled green beans round out the main course. Finish with peach pie à la mode.

Most vegetable gratins need to be bound with a white sauce. This is not true of gratins made from starchy vegetables, which will release enough starch to thicken the liquid around them. Here the sweet potatoes are baked first to concentrate their sweetness and then cooked a second time with just enough cream to mellow them out. This dish is an ideal accompaniment to roast poultry or pork.