Swiss Chard Dolmas with Tomato Sauce

From the Arabic word for “something stuffed,” dolmas make a deliciously satisfying vegetarian meal. Choose Swiss chard with white stems, which usually mean thick leaves. Look for Puy lentils in specialty food stores.

Mini Smoked Salmon Dill Quiches

Mini quiches are easier to serve than one big quiche, and they make for an elegant presentation at your holiday brunch. Prep them the night before, then pop them into the oven to reheat in the morning.

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Cheesecake

This swirl-topped cheesecake looks very impressive at the table. But don't be intimidated by it. Because the two batters have very similar textures, they swirl together with ease. For an elegant finish, garnish each serving with a dollop of whipped cream and a whole hazelnut or a hazelnut wafer cookie.

Strawberry Vanilla Cheesecake

This classic New York-style cheesecake gets an update with vanilla and strawberries. Choose small uniform-size berries.

Gougères Stuffed with Herbed Salmon

Brown Sugar Cheesecake with Caramel Apples

Apple, brown sugar and cinnamon come together in this autumn dessert. If the topping is made ahead, the pectin in the apples will make it thicken when cooled, so rewarm to liquefy before serving.

Hearty Gluten Free Penne With Braised Duck Leg

Hosting friends while needing to accommodate for dietary restrictions can be tricky. Impress guests with a wholesome pasta dish that combines braised local duck with all the tastes of fall: sage, hazelnuts and butternut squash.

Chicken Milanese with Celery Root Purée

This dish is low-fuss because you can bread and refrigerate the chicken up to 8 hours ahead—meaning you can avoid greeting guests with eggy, floury, crumby fingers. If you can't find watercress, arugula makes an equally appealing salad topper for the meal.

No-Bake Mummy Pops

This adult treat is a cross between a cake pop and a rum ball. Look for lollipop sticks and cake pop stands at bulk food stores or in the baking aisle of the grocery store. We wrapped the sticks in gauze for a mummified effect. These pops taste best when cold, so keep them in the fridge until you're ready to sink your teeth into them. For an alcohol-free version, substitute 3 tbsp cold strong coffee for the coffee liqueur.

Two-Tone Mocha Cheesecake

Coffee and chocolate are a match made in heaven, and when they are combined in this rich, creamy-smooth layered cheesecake, each mouthful is divine. If you like, decorate the cake with Chocolate Trees, supporting each with a small piece of chocolate if desired.