The rich chocolate sponge, moistened with brandy and cherries, is a perfect party dessert and it always looks impressive.

Oysters on Ice with Shallots, Red Wine Vinegar, and Lemon.

This makes a very pretty dessert for Holiday dinner, as the pears take on a extra gold color from the wine.

As the familiar sweet aroma fills the house, no one will be able to resist a slice of this dense, moist chocolate banana bread.

This warm, spicy marinate with its rich partnership of flavors is perfect complement to lightly fried fish, such as cod, basa, sea bass.

Imagine a perfect bite of caramelized crape of a most delicious flavor with pastry cream melting in your mouth.

Once you have tasted biscotti, the sheer pleasure will tempt you to eat at least another couple, so I suggest you provide 3-4 cookies.

The marbled meringues come out crispy outside, but soft and chewy inside. Impossible to resist!

Crackle Top Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.

These little cookies are just a perfect coffee or tea treat. The hardest part I have is trying to not eat 12 cakes in the same sitting.

Christmas Cookies #3: Spiced Brown-Sugar Fruit Drops, perfect sweet little treats for a cookie jar.

Russian Mushroom Cookies – “Gribochky”.If you like something unique for your holiday cookie jar – these “mushrooms” are for you!

Lebkuchen – German Spice Cookies with Almonds. Since lebkuchens improve with age, make them 3-4 days before serving.

It is perfect for someone who does not like to spend much time in the kitchen and wants to make quick, tasty and simple vitamin rich carrot.

Roasted Cauliflower Bites are so simple to make, yet your quests will always be impressed by them. Very addictive!

If you would like to cook something different or have decided not to cook the whole bird, here is a time saving substitute.

“Shokoladnaya Kalbaska” – Chocolate Biscuit Salami with Walnuts & Rum, Russian cookie recipe.