Hazelnut

Ellen Schwab, Bethesda, Md.
"I created this cookie, which combines my two favorite flavors — hazelnut and chocolate — just for this contest."

Chocolate lovers will be in heaven when they taste these ultra-moist treats. The marbled topping works on most bar cookies.

This dessert, prominent in the window of virtually every Paris pastry shop, is a true classic. The puff pastry rounds are usually filled with an almond mixture, but my version features hazelnuts and chocolate. Purchased pastry makes it approachable for the modern cook. Since it reheats nicely, the Pithiviers can be made ahead.

Can be made in 45 minutes or less.

This Italian version of fruitcake is dense, chewy and candy-like. Wrap it in brightly colored cellophane for giving.

A rustic tart with a delicious hazelnut crust, sweet filling and buttery topping.

This nucato is related to the delicious nougat noir ("black nougat") still made in the southern French town of Sisteron. But here, there is an additional pleasant surprise when you taste it: the perfumed bite of spices. This is a perfect treat for Christmastime.

A real winner: Delicate "purses" of phyllo pastry hold a banana and hazelnut filling. They're served with white chocolate sauce and a crunchy hazelnut crumble.

Favorite Italian flavors — espresso and hazelnut — come together in these appealing treats.

Hazelnuts and wild mushrooms - popular ingredients from Oregon and Washington - add terrific flavor and texture to this sophisticated stuffing.

This is a simplified version of the appetizer served at Olives, where the scallops are skewered with bacon before they are cooked.

Schwarzwälder Torte Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 4 hr (includes cooling meringues)

"For me, cooking has always been a way to wind down and relax," writes Mark Van Wye of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I'm a writer and I work from home, so depending on how busy things are, I can spend hours preparing a meal. But I also like to be ready to whip up dinner at the drop of a hat. The recipes here are just two of a handful of standbys I rely on when last-minute company is coming or a deadline has kept me out of the kitchen." This sophisticated starter would lend an elegant touch to any special meal.