Almond

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 45 min

"Five years ago, I threw my first dinner party," writes Kristin McGill of Chicago, Illinois. "It was a memorable night with good friends, great food and lots of wine. That night, cooking became my passion. And despite all of the effort, I still love to throw parties. My husband, Henry, and I host get-togethers once or twice a month. I do most of the preparation — admittedly that's because I enjoy cooking so much that I prefer to have the kitchen to myself. But I have to confess that since I started sharing the counter space, I've discovered we make a great team." For an elegant luncheon or dinner-party presentation, spoon each serving of this main-course salad into individual bowl-size radicchio leaves.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Hannah Levitz of Monroe Township, New Jersey, writes: "I first became interested in cooking when my son, Paul, was growing up. He was a picky eater and quite a challenge to cook for. He's married now with children of his own, and thankfully, he has learned to love almost everything I make. When we all get together, I like to do the cooking — it gives my daughter-in-law a break. And because most of my recipes are speedy, I still have time to enjoy my three grandchildren."

We asked pastry chef Michael Laiskonis if we could compare two versions of the custard in his tart: one made with fresh pumpkin, the other made with canned, which he likes for its reliable consistency. When we tested the two tarts, we were surprised to find that we also preferred the custard made with canned pumpkin — but the choice is yours.

Filled with a mixture of nuts, brown sugar, honey and grated orange peel, this tart will dress up any holiday table. Serve it with whipped cream and, if desired, the Orange-Cranberry Compote

Be sure to cool these cookies before transferring them to a rack—they are very soft when they first come out of the oven and need a moment to set.

A classic combination of tender shortcrust pastry and soft, candy-like caramel filling.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

"My grandmother, who emigrated from Sweden to the United States when she was a little girl, passed on to our family a taste for cardamom," writes Lisa Tracy of Marion, Iowa.

The recipe calls for a pastry bag, but the meringue disks can also be formed with a spatula. If made ahead, the meringue will soften slightly from contact with the buttercream.

These fresh-from-the-oven rolls are made with frozen bread dough.

Offer sliced peaches with these cookies. Store the crescents in a shallow airtight container.

Tortelli di Zucca con Mandorle Don't be fooled by the broth — this is not a soup recipe. Only a very small amount of broth is poured over the tortelli before serving. To grate the cheese, use the ragged-edged holes of a box grater (not the teardrop-shaped holes we recommend in our Recipe Tips). That way, you'll have the correct texture for the filling. Active time: 2 hr Start to finish: 6 1/4 hr (includes making stock)

There's extra crunch in the topping from lots of sliced almonds. Vanilla ice cream is good with this.

For a shiny finish, brush the warm tart with melted apricot preserves.