Dining at home this February 14? For a romantic prelude or finale to the meal, serve dried Calimyrna figs. When cut lengthwise, they look like little hearts. They're a sweet complement to cheeses, crusty breads, and salads. An added benefit: Figs are packed with nutrients, such as iron and potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.
Summertime is even sweeter with cool and creamy treats that you can prepare in advance.
Blackberry and Ginger Trifle
Honey-Yogurt Panna Cotta
Coconut Tapioca Pudding
Lemon Cheesecake Squares
Add a dollop of chocolate cheer to your winter table with our digest of divine desserts.
Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse
Mint Chocolate Brownies
Molten Chocolate Cakes
Chocolate-Pecan Tart
Small sugar pumpkins make seasonally appropriate bowls for hearty servings of robust stew. The pumpkins are hollowed and baked before being filled. Intense heat concentrates the vegetable's sugars, bringing out its natural sweetness -- so you can enjoy its rich, dense flesh as you spoon out your stew. White beans, red pearl onions, baby peas, and turkey sausage make up the deep-flavored mix.
White Bean and Sausage Stew in Pumpkin Bowls
Are you juggling a hectic holiday schedule? Dinner's a snap with pastas that take only 15 minutes of prep -- or less.
Linguine with Turkey Sausage and Peppers
Tortellini with Peas
Pasta with Onion, Bacon, and Goat Cheese
Whole-Wheat Pasta with Kale and Fontina
The name of this caramel-like confection, from Argentina and Uruguay, loosely translates to "milk candy": In a traditional process, sugar and milk are cooked over low heat for hours, until the mixture becomes thick and golden. Make your own dulce de leche, or find it in the international aisle or a Latin-foods market. It's great spread on toast, drizzled over tropical fruit such as mango, used as a dip for apple slices, or whipped into butter and spread on cornbread.
