Electric Mixer

"I recently went to the Good News Café in Woodbury, Connecticut, with my husband and some of our friends," says Phyllis Hertzberg of Englewood, New Jersey. "For dessert, I ordered a chocolate cupcake, and it was absolutely divine—rich and gorgeous. Everybody had a bite, and we all thought it would be a nice addition to your magazine." More like individual flourless chocolate cakes, these "cupcakes" would make a sophisticated dessert for a dinner party. They are delicate and may crumble on top, but don’t worry, since they're served upside — down with a glaze spread over them.

This impressive dessert features two classic components: the buttery sponge cake known as genoise and the rich frosting known as ganache. Making the genoise and syrup ahead eliminates last-minute fuss. Any leftover ganache can be chilled, rolled into balls and presented as another classic: truffles.

For this dessert a dramatic shape can be achieved by using molds made from foil. The mousses are equally delicious, of course, when made in 3/4-cup ramekins — they just won't be as tall.

Lemon verbena is a perfumy herb with a strong lemon flavor and a lemon-lime aroma. Its shiny green leaves can be added to salads, chicken and fish dishes, and desserts, as well as tea. For this pound cake, if you can't find lemon verbena at your specialty produce market or nursery, use freshly grated lemon zest in its place.

Filled Tricornered Cookies

This bread is a delicious holiday treat.

The flavor and texture of these chewy confections are even better if they are allowed to rest overnight.

The "alternative" is the addition of oat bran.

The perennial Christmas gift gets a luscious face-lift in this impressive cake. We guarantee that it won't get shuffled around, and no one will make any jokes about it. Store the cake in the refrigerate for up to three weeks before giving. Wrap it in some red or green cellophane, and present it in a decorative box (a hatbox is fun) tied with a big, bright bow.