Melissa Hamilton

Bake this festive spice cake in your favorite Bundt pan or pudding bowl, or feel free to use an 8" springform pan. You can top the cake with Luscious Chocolate Icing (see recipe) or simply dust it with powdered sugar.

Use good butter, fresh crabmeat, and Meyer lemons and this simple spread will really sing. Can't find Meyer lemons? Substitute 2 Tbsp. juice and 1-2 tsp. zest from a regular lemon instead.

The truth is, you can use any supermarket bone-in ham for this recipe, or buy a half ham and cut the recipe accordingly. But considering the holiday occasion, it's worthwhile to get the best cured, smoked, bone-in ham you can find. Special-order one from your butcher or from dartagnan.com (we love the applewood-smoked version).

This citrus cake is decorated with thin slices of candied orange peel. If you have any left over, roll them in sugar and dip in melted icing for a sweet treat.

We cook our chicken in two phases to keep the skin taut and the flesh moist and juicy.

Sip this beefy, faintly sweet, broth as is, or to make it even heartier, simmer diced root vegetables and/or little pastas in it.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can also calm an upset stomach. We love the heat it adds to this chicken soup recipe.