Pumpkin

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of the microwave oven.

These cake-like treats are moist and spicy-and great with milk.

Swirl a little cream decoratively into each bowl of soup for an elegant presentation.

Creamy mascarpone cheese and pureed roasted pumpkin are blended with just a delicious touch of cinnamon to make an interesting sauce for the fettuccine starter. Uncork a Dolcetto.

Walnuts add crunch to these breakfast treats served at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid.

Crisp European rolled cookies would be nice alongside this large, impressive custard.

Serve one of these loaves the day you make them. Wrap the other in foil and freeze up to one month so that you'll have it on hand for unexpected company.

Adding sour cream to the filling richens the custard and makes it a bit less sweet, allowing the flavor of the pumpkin to come through in this dessert. Any extra pie dough can be cut into pumpkin shapes for a festive garnish on top.

Here's a fine-textured cake with a luxurious cream cheese and whipped cream frosting.

Start with vegetable sticks and dip from the supermarket. Warm tortillas and a plate of sliced red onion, orange and avocado are nice sides. To end, sprinkle rum and brown sugar over fresh pineapple chunks. Look for the coconut milk in the Asian foods section of the grocery store.