Better Homes & Gardens December 2007 Recipes

Served whole and flavored with mildly hot red pepper and tangy lemon, these carrots are hard to resist.

Indulge guests with this creamy soup; roasted red peppers make a pretty garnish.

Fresh-baked pears make a delicious accompaniment to this spice-and-mustard-coated beef roast.

Serve this onion pudding, baked up with cheddar and garlic, in individual ramekins. Sage leaves make a beautiful garnish.

This easy side dish gets its bold flavor from cider vinegar; deep purple beets look festive and are healthy, too.

Made with creamy milk chocolate, this easy cakelike dessert is topped with cranberries and kumquats.

This pretty take on baby broccoli is finished in less than 30 minutes. Toasted almonds add crunch, while orange juice adds a light citrus flavor.

These moist cookies blend crowd-pleasing gingerbread and chocolate chips.

Everyone will love the fruity filling surprise inside these tender shortbread cookies.

These super-sized coconut macaroons make delightful gifts.

To dress up these festive cut-out cookies, we used powdered sugar icing (see recipe) and topped it with a cherry slice.

In this modern spin on pfeffernusse, white pepper adds subtle zip, while ginger and honey keep things sweet.

These lemony, cranberry-studded sandies are a snap to make -- and a treat to eat.

With sugary frosting, these nutmeg-spiced cookies are hard to pass up.

Decorate these dainty spritz blossoms with a sweet glaze and dusting of sugar.

Get in the holiday spirit with these butter-filled cookie cutouts; red- or green-tinted icing adds a festive touch.

It's easy to make the red bow on these cardamom-flavored "presents"; store-bought frosting is all it takes.

These classic thumbprint cookies stand out with an irresistible candied cherry center.

These savory tarts are a classy solution for a last-minute get-together -- they're simple yet special.

Raisins, apricots, and a delicious blend of spices make this slow-cooker stew hard to resist; serve it at a casual weeknight get-together.

You'll have a happy holiday with these cute cinnamon wreath cookies embellished with creamy homemade icing and mini semisweet chocolates.

You can make these rich, double-chocolate mini tarts using a standard muffin pan. You'll love their sweet chocolate-raspberry-coconut filling.

Another slow-cooker standout, this chicken recipe gets a spicy kick from jalapenos and cayenne peppers; cashews add delightful crunch.

Chef and cookbook author Rocco DiSpirito's bacon, shrimp, and coleslaw combo makes a delightful first course.

Oranges, plum tomatoes, garlic, and fresh thyme flavor this lamb chop recipe, created by Chef Rocco DiSpirito.