Alcohol

This drink is sometimes known as a Napoleon.

Variant: King's Peg (Napoleon)

Madeira is combined with Cointreau, honey and spices in a simple English-inspired hot drink for the holidays.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 3 1/4 hr

To serve as a drink, freeze until just slushy but not solid. Look for Angostura bitters in the liquor section of the supermarket.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Here's an easy dish to cook ahead for company. Serve it with buttered noodles or mashed potatoes, then add a vegetable to round out a comforting meal.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

For this rustic French meal, start with mixed greens dressed with lemon vinaigrette; serve new potatoes tossed in butter and parsley with the beef; and end with plum tarts topped with whipped cream. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The malt flavor of Guinness stout marries well with the sugar and milk in this distinctive ice cream--inspired by a recipe from the files of the American Homebrewers Association--and the faintly bitter aftertaste cuts the sweetness.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Here's a great drink that is guaranteed to take the chill off a winter day. It's also quite nice with an added splash of brandy or Kahlúa.