Creamy and comforting, this cauliflower gratin recipe features a classic Béchamel sauce punched up by just a little bit of fresh thyme. This gratin is a classic at Provencal tables, and is often served for the traditional meatless Christmas Eve dinner, gros souper. Bon appetit!

Creamy Cauliflower Gratin Photo: ©Noema

Crème au caramel is a wonderful dessert recipe for holiday dinners. Not only is the flavor mellow, sophisticated, and versatile; this bistro classic can be made up to one day in advance. Served in an impressive pool of homemade caramel, it needs no garnish other than an attractive plate. Bon appetit!

Crème au Caramel Photo: ©Muriel Amaury

Holiday Cookie Exchange 2009

From Elizabeth LaBau, Candy: Gingerbread Truffles are soft, fragrant truffle balls that taste just like gingerbread cookie dough! These delicious candies feature gingersnaps, spices, toasted nuts, and white chocolate, for an easy, decadent holiday treat. From Jessica Harlan, Cooking Equipment: These spritz cookies are delicate and rich, thanks to the addition of cream cheese in the dough. Use a cookie press to turn the dough into beautiful shapes that can be decorated with sugars and sprinkles.

This country-style casserole of chicken stewed in wine is a fantastic chilly weather main course. Serve it with crisp greens drizzled with rosemary white wine vinaigrette, a fresh baguette, and good wine for a complete, easy meal. Bon appetit!

Coq au Vin - Chicken Stewed in Wine Photo: ©Rebecca Franklin, Licensed to About.com

2009 Holiday Cookie Exchange

From Barbara Rolek, Eastern European Food: Kolaczki exist in most Eastern European cuisines and are spelled variously as kolaci, kolache, kolacky, kolachky, among others. Fillings run the gamut of apricot to raspberry to prune to cheese, and some truly untraditional flavors like pineapple are sneaking into the mix. This recipe starts with a flaky cream cheese dough. Czech Bar Cookies or cukrovi are a delightful blend of nuts, almond paste and strawberry filling. Best of all, they're easy to make and keep well.

From Carroll Pellegrinelli, Baking: Butter
Spritz Cookies are small delicate cookies that are made with a cookie press. Cookie presses typically come with several disks to make various shaped cookies like Christmas trees, hearts, flowers and so on.

Polish Kolaczki Photo: ©Barbara Rolek, Licensed to About.com

This cranberry brie crepes recipe, both savory and sweet, is delicious year round, but it is particularly irresistible after big holiday meals. Refreshing, tangy cranberry sauce combines with creamy, flavorful melted Brie cheese to make a perfect appetizer or light dinner. Adding succulent pieces of roasted turkey or chicken makes a marvelous addition to this already scrumptious dish. Bon appetit!

Cranberry Brie Crepes Photo: ©Seth Woodworth

Perfect for a quick, weekday dinner, this maple-roasted squash recipe is as versatile as it is easy. Serve it alone, on a bed of greens, or as a accompaniment to roasted poultry. You can't go wrong with tender, caramelized butternut squash! Bon appetit!

Maple-Roasted Squash Photo: ©Fimb

Apple glazed carrots are a popular fall side dish in Canada. Apples and cider are fresh from the autumn press and carrots are readily available throughout the cool months. The secret to making this French Canadian side dish special is to brown the butter before adding it to the spiced cider glaze. It's easy to prepare and quite tasty served at holiday meals! Bon appetit!

Apple Glazed Carrots Photo: ©Rebecca Franklin, Licensed to About.com

An inexpensive dessert can be hard to find - most of the time. Pie pumpkins are priced quite nicely this time of year, as well as the year round availability of canned pumpkin puree. That makes this spiced pumpkin mousse recipe a perfect choice for a delicious, seasonal treat. Bon appetit!

Spiced Pumpkin Mousse Photo: ©Jarno

Buckwheat crepes, or Breton crepes, from Brittany are a delicious way to make a simple, wholesome meal. This basic buckwheat crepes recipe is a great version. They beg to be filled with a variety of ingredients, so get creative with what you have on hand. Here are just a few ideas for inspiration!

Breakfast Crepes: Brush a few crisp slices of cooked bacon with apricot preserves and combine with a little bit of Camembert cheese.

Light Lunch Crepes: Toss your favorite chopped vegetables (zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, onions, etc.) with a bit of olive oil and roast at 450F until they caramelize and turn tender. Season them with a bit of salt and pepper. Use them to fill the buckwheat crepes along with thinly shaved country ham and bits of Brie.

Dinner Crepes: Lightly sauté 1 1/3 cup mushrooms and ¼ cup chopped shallots in butter until tender and cooked through. Add 1 tablespoon dry white wine, 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme, and ½ cup chopped, cooked chicken or turkey, and heat through.

Buckwheat Crepes Photo: ©Rebecca Franklin

Nothing tastes better than homemade whipped cream. For unique flavor, try this maple cinnamon whipped cream recipe as a perfect topper for holiday pies, beignets, and pastries. For a special treat, use it on coffee or brioche for a sweet, flavorful breakfast. Bon appetit!

Maple Cinnamon Whipped Cream Photo: ©Emily Meeks

The next time you want to stay in and warm your toes from the cold, throw caution to the wind and make a guilty pleasure for dinner. Poutine is a messy, rich version of gravy fries in Canada. It's a very versatile recipe that has many local and thematic variations - the ultimate greasy spoon specialty. It won't fulfill your nutrition requirements, but you'll be too distracted by the fantastic flavor combinations to worry about that. Bon appetit!

Poutine Photo: ©Brad Haynes