Bon Appétit

An immersion blender makes the prep time even shorter.

Rouille is a Provençal sauce that's traditionally made with peppers and served with fish. Here, it's the spread for an easy, flavorful appetizer.

Egg whites replace the usual oil or butter. This recipe makes a lot of granola, but that's just fine because there are so many things you can do with it. 1. For a breakfast parfait
Layer thawed frozen berries, vanilla yogurt, and granola in a tall glass. Drizzle with honey.
2. As a topping for apple pie
Instead of streusel, sprinkle granola over the apples during the last five minutes of the pie's baking time.
3. For trail mix
Just add M&Ms or white-chocolate chips, and you're ready for a hike.

Chocolate mousse would be a great simple ending to this meal for two.

This is a dessert to remember: chocolaty cookie crust, creamy mascarpone filling, and a glistening cranberry topping.

If you've never cooked with quince before, here's a great intro. It tastes like a cross between an apple and a pear.

The secret to the delicious (and easy) meringue? Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme. Trust us.

Kumquats, small, oval citrus fruit with an edible peel, start turning up in markets this month. They're candied here for a gorgeous cheesecake topping.

Mascarpone lightens up the filling of this classic pumpkin pie.

In this refined version, pecan pie is all grown up.

Flavored with traditional stuffing herbs, these are great for mopping up gravy. They also make a tasty snack sandwich with leftover turkey.

These whole wheat rolls will impress everyone with how incredibly soft and moist they are. The secret ingredient? Instant potato flakes.

Roasting brings out fennel's sweet side.

You'll find pomegranate seeds at markets and at specialty foods stores.

To add richness, sauté three ounces sliced pancetta until crisp; crumble over before serving. Varietal honeys are available at specialty foods stores and online at chefshop.com.

This is a fresh twist on green beans amandine. Marcona almonds, from Spain, are more tender than California almonds and are usually sold roasted and salted. Look for them at specialty foods stores and online at tienda.com.

If you've never had rutabagas, here's a great way to try them. Ginger-roasted pears add sweetness and a touch of spice—the perfect balance for this earthy root vegetable. Slice one extra pear and roast it (with the cubes) to use as garnish.

Chestnuts play deliciously against roasted grapes. Roasted chestnuts in jars can be found at some supermarkets, at specialty foods stores, and online at markys.com or mastercaviar.com.