Make Ahead

This recipe makes plenty of extra walnuts; they are delicious tossed in salads, crumbled over ice cream, or served with drinks.

Crème fraîche is a cultured cream with a rich, silky texture and a nutty, tangy flavor that's well worth seeking out for this recipe. Look for it at some supermarkets and in the dairy section of specialty foods stores. Baker's sugar, a favorite of pastry chefs, is also called superfine sugar. It measures the same as regular but dissolves more quickly. It's available at some supermarkets. You can also make your own by whizzing granulated sugar in a food processor until powdery.

Baker's sugar, a favorite of pastry chefs, is also called superfine sugar. It measures the same as regular but dissolves more quickly. It's available at some supermarkets. You can also make your own by whizzing granulated sugar in a food processor until powdery.

What to drink: A red Rhône wine like Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Gigondas, with bold fruit flavors and earthy notes.

We were surprised to learn that a lean meat could produce such a delicious ragù. The nice thing about this dish is that it cooks quickly and is substantial without being heavy, making it the perfect dinner as we head into spring. It's also delicious when prepared with veal.

Maple syrup and maple sugar infuse a simple vanilla custard with a rich caramelized flavor.

Although major brands of crystallized ginger list only sugar and ginger in the ingredients, crystallized ginger cannot be purchased with kosher-for-Passover certification. If you choose to omit this ingredient, increase the fresh ginger by one teaspoon and add 2 extra teaspoons of honey. This recipe is best served within a few hours of preparation.

Creton
Quebec breakfast at its best, this pâté-like spread is a treat on toast or crackers anytime.

This recipe produces a slightly dry, chunky charoset. If you prefer a more moist version, add extra wine, a tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.

Coarsely chopped coriander seeds add a lovely floral note to this nutty Middle Eastern grain.

In addition to its traditional role on the Seder plate, this charoset is delicious as a condiment for duck or roast beef.

Crumbly, delicate, and glistening with golden sugar, these easy slice-and-bake cookies are the ideal complement to Calvados toddies. Perfect as an after-dinner nibble or an everyday treat, they will quickly become one of your favorite standbys.

Fèves au Lard
These beans boast two staples of Montreal cuisine —sweet maple syrup and rich salt pork.

This fusion of many Sephardic recipes makes an extremely realistic “mortar.” The nuts and spices can be varied to suit individual tastes.

For a gentle boost of sweetness, these buttery biscuit roll-ups feature maple in both the dough and the filling.

If you like chicken liver mousse, you'll definitely want to try this recipe, which uses a completely different method than most. Puréeing the chicken livers and then baking them in a hot water bath results in an extremely tender spread.

The eggplant and garlic in this recipe are roasted until they are so soft, they create a spread that nearly melts into the crisp slices of baguette.

In this recipe, simple pantry ingredients come together to make a homey cake that's so tender and moist, you'll be fighting over the last piece.