Lebkuchen Cutout Cookies

These invitingly spicy glazed German cookies, which can be baked ahead, are what many holiday cooks like best. Roll and cut out rectangles, fun gingerbread folk, trees, stars, or — in the northern European holiday tradition — hearts.

Roast Pork With Balsamic Roasted Grapes

The best part about this roast is that it's mostly hands-off once the initial prep is done. The balsamic vinegar loses its bite as it cooks and becomes a sweet coating on the grapes and shallots.

Classic Whipped Shortbread

Every bite of these easy-to-make cookies will melt in your mouth. Go the traditional route and decorate with glacé cherries or use a piping bag and star tip to pipe the dough into pretty rosettes.

Peaches and Cream Pie

Golden pastry holding a creamy sliced-peach filling and a crumbly topping deliciously shows off the best of the season in the dessert course from our September issue "Supper on the Deck" menu.

Alison's Dad's Fruitcake

This medium-dark fruitcake is full of nuts, fruit and lovely spices. If desired, unwrap occasionally and brush with more brandy.

Tahini Dip

Sponge Cake with Strawberries in Sherry Syrup

Marinated strawberries add glamour to a no-fail orange sponge cake. For a nonalcoholic syrup, replace the sherry with pulp-free orange juice.

Lemon Lime Refrigerator Cookies

Stash a few logs of dough away for when you're tempted to fill the kitchen with cookie aromas. It's practical to cut the rolls short enough that you can bake a tiny batch in a toaster oven.

Tropical White Christmas Cake

Exotic dried fruit makes this even more colourful than a traditional fruitcake.

Gluten Free Pancakes