Glögg

This bracing Swedish punch gets its kick from aquavit, a potent, potato-based liquor. The wine must steep with the spices for at least 12 hours before drinking, so begin your glögg a day ahead.

ingredient list

SERVES 4

• 3 whole cardamom pods
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger
• 1 3x1-inch piece orange peel
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bottle medium-bodied, dry red wine
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup whole, blanched almonds
• 1/4 cup aquavit, optional

Directions

1. Place cardamom pods into a heavy plastic bag, and crush them lightly with a rolling pin. Put cardamom, cloves, ginger, orange peel, cinnamon stick and wine into a nonreactive pitcher. Stir, cover and set aside in a cool place overnight.
2. Strain wine into a 2-quart, nonreactive saucepan, and stir in sugar. Before serving, bring it to a simmer, and stir in almonds and aquavit. Serve hot.

Sweet Walnut Soup

"Served hot or cold, this is one of the few Chinese desserts I clamored for as a child," says VT recipe tester Fiona Kennedy.

ingredient list

Serves 8

• 2 cups raw walnuts
• 3 Tbs. Arborio or Carnaroli rice
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 15-oz. can light coconut milk
• Fresh or dried persimmons or peaches, for garnish, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread walnuts on baking sheet, and toast 15 minutes, or until fragrant. Cool.

2. Soak rice in 1 cup boiling water in bowl 2 hours. Drain. Purée rice, walnuts, and 4 cups water in blender until smooth. Transfer to saucepan, stir in sugar and salt, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Strain mixture through fine sieve into bowl. Discard solids. Stir in coconut milk. Garnish with persimmons, if using.

Mini Mango and Black Bean Casseroles

When longtime vegetarian Rhee Lightner cooks for her omnivorous family, her goal is "to make food that is so delicious they don't even think about what they're eating." She came up with this dish on a cold, rainy day when she wanted to eat "something sustaining, comforting, and wholesome–and the idea of making a nontraditional dish for the holidays appealed to me."

ingredient list

Serves 6

Polenta

• 2 13.5-oz. cans full-fat coconut milk
• 1 cup Bob's Red Mill polenta
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 Tbs. Bragg nutritional yeast
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. Simply Organic crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Simply Organic ground cumin

Mole

• 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbs. minced unsweetened chocolate
• 1 Tbs. raisins, finely chopped
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
• 1 tsp. Simply Organic crushed red pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Simply Organic cinnamon powder

Casseroles

• 1 tsp. olive oil, plus more for ramekins and polenta
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1 15-oz. can Eden Organic black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tsp. lime juice
• 3/4 cup diced fresh mango
• 6 slices Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Tbs. dried cilantro

Directions

1. To make Polenta: Skim cream from top of coconut milk cans; reserve for garnish. Bring 2 cups coconut milk, 1 cup water, and remaining ingredients to a boil in saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until thick.

2. Coat 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Smooth Polenta mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate overnight.

3. To make Mole: Simmer all ingredients in saucepan over medium-low heat 3 minutes, or until sauce is smooth.

4. To assemble Casseroles: Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper, and cook 5 minutes. Add black beans, almonds, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and Mole. Fold in mango.

5. Preheat oven to broil. Brush 6 1-cup ramekins with oil, and place on baking sheet. Scoop 1/3 cup black bean mixture into each ramekin.

6. Unmold Polenta from cake pan, and cut into 6 rounds with 3-inch round cutter. Sauté Polenta rounds in oil in medium skillet until browned on both sides. Place Polenta rounds over bean mixture in ramekins, top with cheese, and sprinkle with dried cilantro. Broil 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.