What could be more French countryside than pulling a chilled bottle of homemade (or at least home-doctored) wine from the fridge for a special celebration?

Save your most glamorous stemmed glasses for this elegant but very easy dessert based on the season's favorite drink, eggnog. Its creamy texture is offset by the punch of the brandied apricots....

A glaze of sweet vermouth cooked down with orange zest, bay leaves, and rosemary doubles as a sauce and pairs well with the meat.

Green apple and cider vinegar provide the right amount of tart balance in this slightly sweet, down-home soup topped with homemade bacon bits.

We tested this recipe in a traditional Italian terra-cotta bean pot, which cooked the beans gently, allowing them to retain their shape and texture.

Maple granola stays shiny as a breakfast brittle, a crunchy foil for smooth yogurt and sweet fruit steeped in a bay-leaf and citrus syrup.