Crispy French bread rolls spread with tarragon-cornichon mayo and filled with leftover beef bourguignon, lettuce, and tomato.

Fresh lemon juice and simple syrup are churned in an ice cream machine until smooth, then scooped into hollowed-out frozen lemon halves and garnished with sugared lemon zest. This palate-cleansing sorbet served in its own natural cup makes a beautiful, refreshing finale to a rich French-inspired meal.

A complex mole sauce built from ancho and pasilla chiles, almonds, pepitas, Mexican chocolate, raisins, chipotles, and warm spices is slow-cooked with chicken for four hours and served with a bright radish salad and charred tortillas. This rich, deeply layered mole showcases the depth of Mexican cuisine and lets the slow cooker do the patient work of melding dozens of ingredients into one extraordinary sauce.

Blanched and grilled carrots, green beans, mushrooms, zucchini, squash, and radicchio chopped over Bibb lettuce with a light lemon vinaigrette. A vibrant, veggie-packed salad with beautiful char marks that makes eating clean feel anything but boring.

Cream cheese, spinach, and lump crabmeat are seasoned with Worcestershire, dry mustard, paprika, and cayenne, topped with panko breadcrumbs, and baked until golden and bubbling. This rich, savory dip is an irresistible crowd-pleaser that disappears fast at any dinner party or gathering.

Fresh lime juice and homemade mint simple syrup topped with sparkling water over ice for a fizzy, herbaceous cooler. A refreshing non-alcoholic sipper that keeps everyone hydrated during a laid-back movie night.

A spicy margarita muddled with fresh jalapeno and ginger slices, shaken with tequila and orange liqueur. Served in a lime-salt rimmed glass for a cocktail with serious kick.

Red wine simmered in a slow cooker with cheesecloth-wrapped whole spices, orange juice and zest, and a sprig of rosemary. A fragrant, hands-off holiday drink that fills the house with warmth as the days grow shorter.

Thick cauliflower steaks roasted until golden and topped with toasted pine nuts, golden raisins, and butter. A hearty vegetable side dish with sweet and savory contrast.

A crisp Italian-style coleslaw with shaved fennel, dried basil, and a tangy mayonnaise-vinegar dressing. A fresh, crunchy side that pairs perfectly with beef sandwiches.