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Make Ahead

Green Gazpacho

"Andaluca restaurant in Seattle offers a delicious—and beautiful—green gazpacho served with a crabmeat topping," says Elida D. Wilson of Olympia, Washington. "Would chef Wayne Johnson be willing to share his recipe?"

Brown Sugar-Pecan Fudge Balls

"I make a variety of candies for holiday gifts, and I always include these," writes Chloe Chapman of Portland, Oregon. "A friend of mine from the South, says that the filling tastes just like penuche, a creamy fudge-like candy made with brown sugar and butter." For proper texture, it’s important to cool the candy mixture to 112°F (but no cooler).

Candied Orange Zest

You can sometimes find candied orange peel in stores, but it is typically thicker, chewier, and more moist than candied zest. It will also never have the intense citrusy flavor of candied zest you make yourself.

Cosmopolitan Champagne Cocktail

We thought we would update the popular Cosmopolitan by substituting Champagne for the usual lemon vodka. We garnished the drinks with skewers of sugar-coated fresh cranberries (thawed frozen ones will work just fine, too).

Caramelized Lemon Tart

A delicious treat from Aspa Herrgård. If you don't want to caramelize the top in brûlée style, just sift powdered sugar over the tart before serving.

Apricot Sauce

Also nice over ice cream or pound cake.

Holiday Fruit Parfait

Looks pretty and tastes great. If you can find fresh raspberries at this time of year, layer them with the other fruits.

Mango Chutney

The mangoes must be completely unripe in order to achieve the firm, chunky texture desired for this chutney. This recipe was created to accompany Lamb Stew with Black Mustard Seeds. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Marinated Cauliflower, Olive, and Arugula Salad

Some of the ingredients need to marinate overnight in the Dijon-red wine vinaigrette, so plan accordingly.

Sweetened Whipped Cream

Both the sugar and the vanilla enhance the flavor of the whipped cream.

Cherry Clafouti

This is the best clafouti I have ever tasted, for it is short on flour, long on custard, and the butter gives it an added depth of flavor. Remove the pits if you like. If you leave the pits in the cherries, be sure to warn your guests so they don't crack their teeth!

Red Onion Marmalade with Chestnuts

Serve with: Steaks, burgers, sausages, pork, duck, or salmon. Combine with: Sautéed greens (such as escarole). Use as: A topping for thin-crust pizza sprinkled with Gorgonzola.

Wedding Cake with Blackberries and Roses

We wanted to make a cake that would look wonderful, taste great, but still be manageable. The layers are a basic pound cake, and the frosting is a simple cream-cheese variation. Sandwiched between the layers is store-bought jam. We know the thought of freezing your showpiece layers can be a little scary. We've tested several, however, and want to emphasize that it’s infinitely better to freeze the layers up to one month (don't refrigerate them) than to have them dry out at room temperature. Finally, you'll need some sort of base for the assembled cake. This can be anything from a very large platter to a piece of wood covered with tulle. Important: Two separate batches of the following batter are required in this recipe. You'll need twice the quantity of the batter ingredients below, but do not double when mixing the ingredients.

Ceviche de Pescado

Fish Salad Cooked in Lime Juice Editor's Note: This recipe and introductory text are excerpted from The Exotic Kitchens of Peru, by Copeland Marks. We've also added some tips of our own below. For a complete guide to Peruvian cuisine, click here. The English title of this recipe is not an altogether accurate description of ceviche since it is the lime (or lemon juice) that "cooks" the fish. Peruvians are justifiably proud of their internationally famous method of serving fish tidbits. A mixed assortment can include squid, octopus, scallops, clams, langostas, as well as pata de mula, a shellfish similar to scallops. Then there are the black scallops of Peru, a rarity. All can be used in a classic ceviche, insuring a variety of textures and flavors.

Bolognese Sauce

This recipe is an accompaniment for Pappardelle Bolognese .

Strawberry Mint Sauce

This recipe was created to accompany <epirecipelink id="14062">Frozen Lemon Mousses</epirecipelink>. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
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