Bon Appétit

Fresh compote replaces cream-and-egg-laden pie filling.

Top sirloin, flank steak, or skirt steak work just as well as eye round in this Thai-inspired dish.

Use butternut squash or a small, firm cooking pumpkin such as a sugar pumpkin for the best results.

Cooking times for wild rice vary from brand to brand by as much as 30 minutes. We recommend using Grey Owl Canadian Lake (greyowlwildrice.com).

Unlock the cure for the common roast turkey with New York City chef Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez's ingenious techniques: First, toast and grind whole spices to coax out their essential oils. Next, marinate the turkey with the spices and yogurt in an oven roasting bag overnight. Then roast the turkey in the bag to lock in flavors and keep the meat ultra juicy. You'll have plenty of richly spiced gravy to pass around the table.

Slice the red beets last and keep them separate until serving so their color won't bleed onto the other vegetables.

Tangy buttermilk and fresh lemon juice balance the sweetness in this custardy Southern pie.

A great all-purpose biscuit recipe.

"Brining the turkey overnight keeps it moist and seasons the interior of the meat," says Lo. "The ingredients, except the cider, are classic 'red-cooking' flavorings used in Chinese cooking to braise and glaze meats like pork or duck." Tent the turkey—especially the wings—with foil if it darkens too quickly while roasting.

The secret behind this Sicilian-inspired dish: crunchy homemade breadcrumbs. To make your own, let cubes of ciabatta or another white bread dry out, then buzz them into coarse crumbs in a food processor.

This rustic tart, filled with toasted pistachios, hazelnuts, and pine nuts, is a wonderful take on pecan pie.

While the turkey rests, take 15 minutes to whip up this simple, timeless preparation.

Celery root, also known as celeriac, has a knobby exterior that is best peeled (carefully!) with a paring knife.

The Reid family crumbles blue cheese on top to add a salty bite.

If you manage to have any leftovers, this moist spice cake makes a nice afternoon treat with a cup of tea. For an extra-tart garnish, serve with Citrus-Cranberry Compote .

Look for kohlrabi, a mildly sweet purple or green vegetable in the cabbage family, at better supermarkets. For a creamier, smoother purée, pass the boiled ingredients twice through a potato ricer or food mill.

Use this fresh blend of spices and herbs to add pep to the Cajun-Spiced Turkey and Crawfish Gravy , or to season blackened redfish or gumbo.

The addition of airy brioche gives this aromatic spiced stuffing a less dense texture than most holiday casseroles.