Thanksgiving

Silken, garlicky mashed potatoes manifest in mere minutes thanks to a super simple technique that's perfect for when you're entertaining or just plain hungry.

Here's a nifty little trick. Reduce maple syrup until sticky, infuse it with spice, and rely on it to impart its ridiculously intense essence to pecan pie.

We used to get our gratins and scalloped potatoes confused. But then we tried this gratin. Guess which one is now our favorite?!

No mere mash, this creamy potato purée owes its uber velvetiness to truly indecent amounts of butter and cream. And we mean that in the best possible way.

Ooooh baby! Broccoli blanketed with a creamy rich white sauce that takes its oomph from blue cheese and its hint of heat from cayenne.

Everyday carrots turn shyly sophisticated when infused with flavor and coaxed to tenderness in this no-hassle side dish.

These fork-mashed spuds are indulgence defined with their easy execution, deceptively rich taste, and lack of bowls and beaters to clean.

Tender braised dark meat, moist roasted white meat, and skin so crisp you could weep. The best of all parts of the bird...minus the traditional hand-wringing.

These corn bread batons bake up crisp on the outside, with a fine crumb on the inside, and ready to sop up as much butter or gravy as you wish.

This un-pumpkin pumpkin pie is made with caramelized butternut squash, spices, and a splash of brandy. It's subtly different from the classic yet still oh-so-perfect for Thanksgiving.

This cauliflower gratin recipe from Dorie Greenspan is French comfort food, yet it wouldn't be out of place on a distinctly American Thanksgiving table.

This stunning Southern belle and its dozen tiers—yup, 12—is astonishingly easy peasy to make thanks to a savvy cake-baking tactic and a touch of patience.

For this boozy cocktail, bourbon, maple syrup, and lemon juice are shaken and served with a cinnamon stick garnish. Autumn sipping, anyone?

Cinnamon is the solo act in this sophisticated but simple gelato. Creamy, indulgent, and complex tasting, this gelato is sure to become a new favorite.

A ridiculously creamy--and relatively simple--homemade caramel filling graces this properly flaky pastry. Salted butter--lots of it--lends this dessert just the right amount of indulgence.

This warm-from-the-oven nosh is the ideal melding of sweet, spicy, and savory. An ideal pre-Thanksgiving-dinner nosh.

A classic. Bread stuffing filled with celery, onion, thyme, basil, and parsley that's synonymous with Thanksgiving (though honestly, it's equally welcome any time with roast chicken).

This iconic roast turkey is, we sorta have to admit, perfect to behold. And it ought to be after being brined, stuffed with chestnut stuffing, and all but smothered in a ridiculously rich, real-deal gravy.

This oyster stew, rich with cream and plump with oysters, is a classic and consummate first course for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

This bread stuffing with bacon, apples, and onions is classic Thanksgiving fare and can be cooked inside or outside the turkey.