Beverages

Festive and beautiful, this creation of editor Nichol Nelson is packed with real cranberry flavor. Forcing some of the berries through a sieve into the syrup intensifies the drink's fruitiness.

You'll want to mix up a pitcher of this bubbly drink for its gorgeous ruby hue alone. It's a refreshing prelude to any holiday meal, and it goes so well with the parmesan puffs .

These buttery, crisp tuiles are made with tea and honey — the Earl Grey lends a sophisticated note of bergamot — and taste wonderful with an afternoon cuppa.

This traditional Italian liqueur looks beautiful in decorative glass bottles that show off its bright-yellow color. For added effect, tuck in some lemon leaves, which are available at many florist shops (just be sure to wash them well before blanching). If you're giving the limoncello as a gift, you'll want to start it well in advance, since it requires a week of steeping. It's best drunk cold, so you may want to refrigerate the bottle before handing it over, in case the recipient wants to crack it open on the spot. It's also delicious poured over fresh strawberries.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from Feast: Food to Celebrate Life, _by Nigella Lawson._I'm not really one for cocktails and pitchers of funny drinks, but I came up with this a few years back and it was so good and the color so festive, I just had to go with it.

This zesty cocktail is a customer favorite at Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Chef Ming Tsai included the recipe in a special menu he created for Epicurious's Wine.Dine.Donate program.

Standing rib roast is a special event; it's also surprisingly easy to make. This version gets a spice rub and a rich, earthy sauce that can be largely made ahead.

This recipe can easily be halved to make one pie. It's great with whipped cream.

Be sure to rub the turkey with the spice mixture the day before roasting.

The giblets can be prepared early in the morning, and the gravy finished up with the pan juices just after the turkey comes out of the oven.

The sweet grapes and tangy capers work beautifully with the fish.

Look for sesame oil in the Asian foods section of the supermarket.

This recipe yields extra gingerbread — enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee.

It's all about the interplay between cake, syrup, and pears in this sophisticated dessert. The rosemary syrup would also be delicious in a cup of tea.

Serve with mustard-seed-crusted pork medallions. IMPROV: Use chopped fresh rosemary in place of the thyme.