Citrus

Sure, you could pour a glass of sparkling Prosecco, but turning it into a celebratory punch rich with fruity, tart pomegranate juice and citrus takes things in an even livelier direction.

Crisp pickled vegetables go brilliantly with cocktails (or with sandwiches, a hunk of cheese, a juicy steak...the possibilities are endless). Fresh ginger and dried chiles give them a bracing boost and orange juice plays up their natural sweetness.

A simmer and soak in sugar syrup glazes kumquats and liquifies their interiors so they taste like delicious shots of marmalade.

This recipe looks more daunting than it actually is. You basically make a bread dough with a bit of butter and egg in it, knead it for a while, the leave it alone to do its thing.

Coating blanched ducklings in orange liqueur makes them develop a crisp, deep mahogany skin as they roast on a bed of orange slices and other aromatics.

These cookie bars are studded with the best parts of traditional fruitcake (orange zest and dried fruit) and spiced up with lots of fresh ginger.

This prep-ahead dinner can be served layered in bowls or deconstructed for picky eaters with the ginger, scallions, and cilantro sauce on the side.

Crunchy tender carrots tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing meet soft and blackened dates for literally everything you want in one bite.

Blanching the chopped orange in boiling water before cooking it with the cranberries removes any bitterness from the peel and pith.

Removing the seeds from one of the chiles lessens the punch. If you like more heat, leave them in. If less, scrape out seeds from both chiles.

A bright and spicy sauce works as both marinade for the shrimp and dressing for the citrus salad in these colorful rice bowls.

Broccoli stems are tender and delicious, but it’s important to cut away the dried-out base and peel the tough skin of thicker ones.

Yes, you can eat butternut squash raw: Thinly shave it into ribbons and marinate it in a zesty dressing and it’s a refreshing and fun new side for your fall table.

Roasting Italian sausages on a bed of sliced fennel and red onion is two kinds of genius: sausage drippings flavor the vegetables and you only have one pan to clean when dinner is done.

Slow-roasting provides the best insurance for moist, super-flaky fish without the need for much tending—which means you can direct most of your attention elsewhere this Valentine’s Day.

Shred perfectly cooked chicken thighs, then add the bare bones back to the simmering pot for an ultra-rich stew. Zesty gremolata, chopped bacon, and fresh lemon add even more flavor.

W. C. Whitfield’s original Kitty Highball recipe—equal parts red wine and ginger ale over ice—goes contemporary. In this deconstructed version the ginger ale is replaced with ginger syrup and soda.

The simple combination of sharp Campari and salty fino sherry makes for a spritz that quenches your thirst and works wonderfully with potato chips, olives, or aged cheeses.

There are only a few ingredients in this party-friendly pomegranate-rum punch.

Whatever fruit you have on hand—pears, berries, figs, grapefruit—will fare beautifully in this sheet cake, which is as good for breakfast as it is dessert.