pear

Whenever I have people over for a sit-down holiday dinner, I like to set the tone with a hunger-inducing salad as the first course. For my most recent dinner, I foreshadowed the Fall meal to come with a peppery medley of in-season produce.

This salad, with its salty, spicy, tangy, and sweet components, turned out to be the perfect way to get guests psyched for supper while still leaving plenty of room for the main course.

Toasted on the stove, pepitas, or hulled pumpkin seeds, impart a nutty flavor to the olive oil, which plays a crucial part in the aromatic dressing. Make this your Thanksgiving salad when you keep reading.

If you want to get healthy in the New Year but still follow your resolution to cook on a budget, here's my advice: be sure to begin each day with a wholesome breakfast that starts at home. It's all too easy to fall into the routine of buying smoothies, but they're so uncomplicated and economical to make at home. For a refreshing departure from the iconic blend of berries and bananas, opt for a creamy avocado-pear mixture that's so vividly green in color, you know it's got to be good for you! Indeed, it is: This recipe, which comes courtesy of the new book Power Foods, is chock-full of folic acid, soluble fiber, and monounsaturated fatty acids.

Boost your breakfast when you read on.

Start off your November right by stocking up on some of the season's best, like super-crispy lady apples and a rainbow of delicately fragrant pear varieties. Pomaceous fruits are most gratifying when eaten out of hand, but they also add an element of complexity to Autumn cocktails.

Here, tender anjou pear slices add intrigue to a classic cosmopolitan for an ultrasmooth sip and a mellow yet lingering finish. Serve it to guests at a Fall function, and leave them wondering what makes your cosmo so special. For a recipe that's very right now, keep reading.

Have you seen any signs of Fall at your farmers market yet? I recently had my first taste of this season's apple bounty, and over the weekend, I visited a pear orchard. These Fall fruits are getting me all sorts of excited to cook, especially since they taste good in sweet and savory dishes. And because I'm all about spreading excitement, I have a few healthy pear recipes to pass along to you.

• Baked pears with maple Greek yogurt and granola. This dish is the perfect way to warm up on a cold morning, and since it's full of fiber and protein, you'll power through until the afternoon.
• Edamame and pear crostinis. Make these bite-sized snacks and throw yourself an impromptu party. They may be low in calories, but they're full of flavor and protein.
• Apple pear oatmeal crisp. Combine two of Fall's favorite fruits — apples and pears — and make yourself this sweet treat.
• Cranberry-pear wild rice stuffing. Your new favorite side dish! Pears in a savory rice dish? You bet.
• Rosemary pear sparkler. Because every girl deserves a cocktail, make yourself one of these sparklers and say cheers!