Snack

If you manage to have any leftovers, this moist spice cake makes a nice afternoon treat with a cup of tea. For an extra-tart garnish, serve with Citrus-Cranberry Compote (click for recipe).

Look for shichimi togarashi, a Japanese seasoning mix, at Japanese markets and savoryspiceshop.com.

This garlic fries recipe is baked, not fried, so it's healthy. Sorta? Kinda?

"This is a play on English cucumber finger sandwiches," says chef David Kinch of Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, CA, who roasts the cucumbers to deepen their flavor. "It also works fantastically on the grill." Use any cucumber, such as Japanese, Persian, or English hothouse, available at supermarkets and farmers' markets.

For this baklava recipe, make sure the phyllo pastry is thawed before you begin working with it.