Twice-Baked Garlic and Roast Tomato Souffles

You can serve these magnificent single-serving souffles without the usual split-second timing. Make them a day ahead and simply repuff before serving. Serve with a salad of baby spinach, mushrooms and red onions.

Carrot Pineapple Loaf

Freshly grated orange rind brightens the flavours of this loaf, and marzipan carrots lighten the look. Doubling the parchment paper keeps the outside from darkening too much.

Smoky Cream of Mushroom Soup

Sliding into a comfy chair in front of the fireplace with a steaming bowl of this rich soup is a perfect way to end the day. The chefs smoke their own chicken bones for this stock, but at home, a smoked turkey thigh or drumstick available from the deli section at most grocery stores does the trick.

Picadillo Meat Pies

A picadillo filling of ground beef, tomatoes, olives and spices gives a Latin American twist to a traditional meat pie.

X-Shaped Cuccidati

Fig-stuffed cookies are essential Sicilian holiday sweets. Sometimes dressed with icing and sprinkled with nonpareils, these egg wash–glazed X-shaped ones offer a fantastic little twist.

CARROT COOKIES WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

Creamy Smoked Salmon Breakfast Crêpes

These sophisticated crêpes require some assembly but have a lovely presentation. Slowly cooking the eggs over low heat just until set ensures that they stay nice and creamy even after baking. Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche or sour cream.

Mushroom Phyllo Rolls

These crisp little rolls are great to have on hand for impromptu get-togethers.

Crab Spring Rolls

Fresh spring rolls filled with noodles, crab, vegetables and tons of herbs served with a sweet-and-sour sauce is a great communal recipe — everyone can take turns wrapping a couple. This type of roll, originally a Vietnamese specialty, is so popular that it has become ubiquitous in Thai restaurants.

Seared Scallops with Bacon and Peas

To round out this elegant main course dish, serve it with buttered baby new potatoes. Freshly snipped pea sprouts or pea tendrils make a lovely garnish.