Barbecued Beef Brisket

Beef brisket is a tough cut that lends itself to slowly smoking on the barbecue. This beef brisket recipe is the ultimate slow food, but it's well worth the effort.

Blood Orange Granita

A granita is a light, simple, refreshing iced treat that doesn’t require an ice cream maker. Stirring the mixture periodically as it freezes gives the granita its characteristic fluffy, granular texture. Blood oranges are in season right now; they have a wonderful ruby flesh and pleasant sweet-tart juice. You can substitute regular fresh orange juice or tangerine juice. This three-ingredient dessert has an added benefit: One serving provides more than 100 percent of your vitamin C needs for the day.

Manchego and Nutmeg Gougeres

Gougeres are the classic nibble with Champagne. Here, we give them a Spanish spin with manchego cheese . . . try them with a glass of cava.

Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus

Nothing is more impressive on a holiday table than a roast prime rib of beef. Ask your butcher to prepare a 12-pound prime rib roast, with the fat cap left on and bones left in.

Revelationary Duck Confit

A simple technique allowing the duck legs to cook in their own juices yields a succulent duck confit that's lower in fat that traditional versions.