Pear

Add a splash of Angostura bitters, a flavoring found in the supermarket's liquor section, for an intriguing spicy note.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 45 min

Poach the pears and serve with traditional anise-flavored fried pastries. Start the pears one day ahead.

This homey sauce complements the savory tastes of the turkey and stuffing.

Terrific with a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve this slightly warm or at room temperature. Either way, it's fantastic with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream.

This dense, moist chocolate cake, made with dried pears, is stunning when decorated with gold leaf. Of course, you can always simply top it with chocolate curls.

Baked in individual ring molds, these little desserts feature caramelized pears, streusel topping and sweetened cream.

Lowcountry cooking is full of ideas that seem foreign to outsiders. This sweet and spicy chutney is the perfect foil for salty country ham. Ground together, the two form a paste for memorable appetizers.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve with: Baked sweet potatoes and sautéed Swiss chard. Dessert: Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Jell-O has been glimmering and shimmering since 1897, and it took America by storm during the 1920s: That was the era for molded salads and desserts. Jell-O has been a staple in the American pantry since then, and in 1997, in celebration of its hundred-year anniversary, the company brought out a sparkling white grape flavor that is mixed with seltzer rather than water, giving it an appealing spritz. Here we’ve added sweet Muscat wine, too.

There will be some leftover pastry dough after rolling out the crust and decorative leaves for the pie. The scraps make delicious snacks when pieced together and baked .