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Whether you're taking to the streets or staying home to pass out candy, try stirring up a witch's brew in your cauldron this Halloween. Made with equal parts pomegranate and cranberry juices, this deliciously dark (but alcohol-free) concoction is perfect for sipping between trips to the front door or packed into a Thermos for a spooky night out with candy-seeking trick-or-treaters. More

Like pound cake, three teacup chicken refers to the "small Chinese teacup," which is used to "measure the soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar." At least that's what Grace Young and Alan Richardson claim for this rendition in The Breath of a Wok. Cute anecdote aside, what's amazing is how simple this sauce is to make. It's tart, sweet, astonishingly complex. Plus it comes together in a matter of seconds, and pairs nicely with the chicken. More

This is the kind of chicken noodle soup I can get into. It's warming and comforting, with hunks of chicken meat and slinky noodles suspended in a rich stock. But this isn't some bland rendition. No, this soup is imbued with the haunting aroma of star anise and cinnamon, and tickled by the numbing sensation of Sichuan pepper. A sprinkling of chopped chile completes this assertive bowl of soup, which comes together surprisingly fast. More

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[Photograph: Max Falkowitz] If there's a more noble application for the last of the season's plums than cobbler, I don't know what is. It's a perfect fruit delivery system, and the application of heat and sugar can hide any imperfections... More

Star anise contributes more depth of flavor, elevating this from a citrusy ice to something more exotic. You don't need much, and it doesn't need to steep for very long to impart its flavor. The coconut water base is subtle and anise easily overwhelms everything it touches. But when your flavors are balanced, you'll be rewarded with a dessert that's bright and exotic, with a tinge of gingery heat and a kiss of licorice sweetness. More

What could be better than chocolate, tequila and ice cream on a hot August afternoon? So why not put them all together in one amazing ice cream concoction? Funny you should ask, because that's exactly what we did. More