Beginner & Expert

I used to think cold weather meant the world was relegated to eating apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. But as I grew older I was introduced to a cornucopia of Winter produce, from blood oranges and kumquats to kale and leafy chicories. One of my top picks is übernutritious escarole, a greenish-white chicory that's not quite as bitter as radicchio and frisée.

Escarole is sweeter sautéed, but adds a nice crunch in a seasonal salad. Roughly chop it and toss with Dijon vinaigrette to cut the bitterness. Or, for something a bit more elaborate, make xató, a classic Catalan salad topped with a romesco-like sauce, and served with anchovy, tuna, and salt cod (baccala). Make the most of January's bounty with two different types of escarole salad when you read more.

Are you staying in this New Year's Eve? If you're one of the many throwing an intimate gathering or attending a house party, consider counting down the clock with elegant salmon-topped potato bites.

Smoked salmon, cream, and grated potato pancakes are a classic pairing — but on a busy night like New Year's Eve, skip the labor-intensive task of grating potatoes and halve them instead. If you prefer a pared-down flavor profile, top potatoes with a simple combination of salmon, fennel, lemon, and sour cream.

For a blowout appetizer, up the sophistication factor by stuffing delicate fingerlings with a home-preserved lemon topping, crème fraîche, and indulgent — but sustainable — American caviar. See both options when you read on.

Foie gras, crown roast, and fruitcake might dominate the holiday table, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for dishes that are both festive and healthy. For a wholesome side dish, serve chestnuts, a classic Winter crop and Christmas favorite, tossed alongside brussel sprouts.

Chestnuts contain twice as much starch as potatoes, but they're low in fat, high in fiber, and possess a sweet, nutty flavor that pairs well with the slight bitterness of caramelized brussels sprouts. Sing along to Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song" as you toss already-roasted whole chestnuts into the simmer. Or, go the completely authentic route, buying fresh kernels and roasting them yourself. See both versions of a staple holiday side dish when you read more.

Around December, so much focus gets put on edible gifts and Christmas cookies that it can be easy to forget about the star of the holiday meal. If you want to impress without going through too much trouble, don't discount duck breast: it has all the exotic cachet of a game bird, without any of the fuss.

Regardless of how little you know about duck, you can't go wrong with its à l'orange preparation; the acidity of a sweet-tart orange glaze cuts through the fowl's robust flavor. Go all out by reducing the orange juice and segmenting fresh oranges to serve alongside the roast; otherwise, a pre-made glaze like orange marmalade does the trick. Make either version when you keep reading.

Although my Christmastime kitchen is mostly at capacity this month with all the cookie swapping and edible gifting, I'll always make room in the oven for some comforting chocolate bread pudding. Steamy, fluffy bread pudding, I've concluded, is the never-fail solution to inclement Winter weather, and stirring in some chocolate makes it 10 times better. If I've got the time, I prepare it using leftover croissant bread and baking chocolate — but you can also shave off an hour by using frozen French toast slices instead. Learn to make either one after the jump.

For me, this first week of December is all about using up leftovers, paring down the inventory in my refrigerator, and making unfussy homestyle meals. That's why for dinner I'll be preparing a rustic, countryside-inspired French onion soup with remaining holiday leftovers and other pantry staples on hand.

Typically, French onion soup begins by caramelizing onions at a low temperature for an extended period, which brings out the onions' sweetness, adds silkiness, and enhances the soup's depth. But if you've got a lot on your plate, cut the time dramatically by using fewer ingredients and employing the help of French-fried onions.

Either way, you'll wind up with a dish that's comforting and not overly indulgent. Find a version that suits your schedule when you read more.

Regardless of whether or not you stuff your turkey, it simply wouldn't be Thanksgiving without stuffing — er, I mean, dressing. Change things up and take a tip from denizens of the Deep South and Carolina low country: make rice the star of the dish. Not only is whole-grain rice healthier and gluten-free, but cooking up a pot of rice is less work than cubing pieces of day-old bread.

If you're on a tight timeline, keep things simple by using brown rice mix. Fluff in sweetness and crunch by adding dried fruit, almonds, and orange zest. Alternatively, build layers of complexity by browning aromatic vegetables, slow-boiling the rice separately, and then baking the components together to fuse all of the dish's earthy flavors. See both options when you read more.

This Thanksgiving, surprise guests by offering a main dish that's a slight departure from the typical turkey roast: a turkey roulade. In case you aren't familiar with the term, it merely refers to any kind of meat that's been rolled around a filling and then cooked. The result? A platter that looks more elaborate and grand than any run-of-the-mill roasted turkey.

Ironically, despite the dish's opulent appearance, a roulade is rather simple, and can make for an ideal entree at a beginner's Thanksgiving. Lean on gourmet canned vegetables, like marinated artichokes and mushrooms, to create the filling for your rolled turkey. Or, if you're up to the challenge, make a traditional roulade that's served with from-scratch stuffing and a cider gravy. Does either interest you? Then read more.

If you're attending a potluck this Thanksgiving and have been assigned to bring a side, be sure to pick something that's classic yet breaks just enough from the norm, so you know there won't be repeated dishes on the table.

Why not spring for the always stress-free and elegant course known as stuffed squash? Keep it simple and fill the gourd with an Italian-inspired medley of sausage, garlic, peppers, and cheese. Alternately, add another layer of texture by simmering couscous, then fluffing it into a sweet-savory dressing of ground beef, onions, cranberries, and walnuts. For a Thanksgiving side — or everyday meal! — that's sophisticated yet straightforward, keep reading.

It isn't a true Thanksgiving meal without loads of sides, scattered around the table like banchan at a Korean barbecue. And one side (other than creamed spinach) that I can't do without is a bowl of candied carrots.

The premise behind glazed carrots couldn't be more basic: you simmer the root vegetables in some form of sweetener (sugar, maple syrup, honey, etc.) until the sauce has thickened and coats the carrots.

If you're taking part in a beginner, budget-conscious, or fast Thanksgiving dinner, opt for a two-step recipe made of only four pantry ingredients. Alternately, add citrus for a side that has layers of complexity. Scope out both recipes after the break.