Dried Apricot

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 3 1/4 hr

This spice-scented compote makes a great accompaniment to the New York cheesecake.

There is no oil in this most original salad.

Grand Marnier and grated orange peel add a touch of elegance to this simple indulgence. Prepare the fondue just before serving, and keep it warm while dipping so that it will remain smooth. Use a traditional fondue pot, or place the pan of the fondue on an electric hot plate. Either way, be sure the heat is low; too much heat will cause the chocolate to burn. Angel food cake, pound cake and a variety of fresh and dried fruits make great accompaniments.

To ensure you get moist, beautiful-looking apricots, avoid those sold in boxes and bags that you can’t see through. If you buy Turkish apricots, keep in mind that they’re usually sold pitted but whole and, unlike most California apricots, will need to be halved horizontally.

Use two 6-mold nonstick mini-Bundt-cake pans or giant-muffin tins for these.

These clafoutis-like puddings are best served warm. This dessert can be made using a 9-inch pie plate instead of the gratin dishes.

This couscous with coriander seeds and apricots is a nice alternative to rice. Try it with roasted chicken or vegetables.

This jam is perfect with roast chicken, pork, or lamb. It's also good with cheese and crackers. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

An Armenian dish that's the perfect accompaniment to roast turkey, goose or ham. This version is dressed up for the holidays with golden saffron and studded with dried fruit and nuts.

Also nice over ice cream or pound cake.

A hearty sweet and savory stew that's a perfect seasonal meal when teamed up with crusty bread and a green salad.

Loosely translated from the Yiddish, tzimmes means "a fuss over something," but in culinary terms, it's commonly a casserole of various fruits, vegetables and/or meats.

The mix of flavors in this side dish is great with broiled lamb chops or roast chicken.

"I love to go out for Indian and Thai food, but my attempts to re-create the dishes at home never turned out very well," says Juliet Hardesty of Bloomington, Indiana. "It wasn’t until I began experimenting with curry paste and ginger that I realized having the right ingredients makes all the difference. This single-dish chicken dinner blends some of my favorite flavors."

Toasted pistachios, apricots, cinnamon and allspice bring great flavor to this accompaniment for the chicken.