Pecan

It's so easy to make these processor-quick biscuits ahead if you like. Then reheat, split and fill them with ice cream and berries just before serving.

Any combination of nuts will work nicely in this winter tart.

This dish comes together quickly, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner. Just add some steamed rice or sauté baby potatoes and a tossed green salad

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe was created to accompany Mocha Mousse with Kumquat Cranberry Sauce and Phyllo Crisps .

Try jazzing up the shortbread with chopped toasted nuts. We particularly like pecans, hazelnuts, and almonds. Use your favorite fine-quality butter for the best-tasting cookies.

Delicate cookies and purchased ice cream produce a grown-up version of a playground favorite.

At fenix restaurant in The Argyle hotel in Los Angeles, chef Ken Frank layers the ice cream with spice cake, then tops it with the rum-spiked bananas.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Assemble these four hours ahead, and rewarm them 20 minutes before serving.

When making candy it's important to have all your equipment meticulously clean, because even the slightest trace of oil can adversely affect texture. Watch carefully for visual cues to doneness, using our cooking times merely as guidelines. And it is essential to do the soft-ball test (see below), as well as taking the temperature of the syrup, since some thermometers can actually be off by a few degrees.

This updated classic adds dashes of red — and depth of flavor — to the usual apple, celery, and walnut mix. Make the salad ahead and refrigerate, then add the watercress and pecans right before serving.

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.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min