44 fruit pie recipes

Vegetarian mincemeat made with fresh pears, dried fruit, candied cherries, almonds, and a splash of whiskey. No suet needed. Spiced with allspice, nutmeg, and ginger for traditional Christmas mince pies.

Old-fashioned mince meat with calf tongue, suet, dried fruit, candied citrus, brandy and whiskey. The traditional pie filling, aged in a crock for at least 7 weeks for deep holiday flavor.

Fermented mincemeat made with venison or beef tongue, suet, apples, dried fruit, red wine, cider, and brandy. A six-to-eight-week crock cure transforms the ingredients into the deep, boozy filling of old hunting cabin Christmas pies.

Oven poached pears in wine, whole ripe pears roasted upright in fruity white wine and honey with cinnamon, bay, and orange zest, then drizzled with the reduced syrup. An elegant, light, make-ahead dessert.

Instead of store-bought pie crust, we made our own with most whole wheat flour and olive oil, which made the crust a lot healthier with flaky texture and delicious flavor. Now enjoy this juicy-fruity pie without feeling guilty at all.

Green pepper and tomato soup with a mortar-pounded garlic-herb paste, saffron, and rice stirred in at the end. A Provencal-style vegetable soup with Parmesan garnish.

A dairy-free Greek spinach pie with homemade olive oil pastry, fresh spinach, curly endive, dill, scallions, and lemon zest. Traditional Lenten spanakopita, completely vegan.

Grilled shrimp over penne pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette. A summery main dish that comes together while the grill is hot.

Greek potato salad with Kalamata olives, capers, quick-pickled onions, and fruity olive oil. A Mediterranean twist on potato salad without mayo.

Turkey pita pockets stuffed with cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, and lettuce tossed in a balsamic-brown sugar vinaigrette. A fresh, no-cook sandwich using leftover turkey.

Chilled Avocado Soup with ginger, serrano chile, and lime, topped with cilantro cream and walnut oil-dressed julienned radishes. A layered Mexican-inspired cold soup that also works served hot.

Fresh shelled pinto beans slow-simmered with tomatoes, cumin, paprika, garlic, and olive oil. Finished with lemon juice and fresh herbs. A vegan side dish from scratch.