Ah November. Your bad reputation is undeserved. Heavy sweaters, fireplaces and baking are some of our favourite things. Like all bread-baking projects, making bagels at home will make your house smell fantastic. That's a given. But there is something inexplicably wholesome about fresh sesame seed bagels. The first time you slice one of these and toast it, I don't think it's an exaggeration at all to say that you won't think of bagels the same way again. The freshness is almost overwhelming. A little margarine and hummus or sliced tomato or peanut butter is pretty much all you need for a relaxing, satisfying lunch. Try to stare out a big window while eating slowly and sipping something hot. More

Cliches are sometimes cliches for good reason. The combination of sesame and ginger in Japanese cooking is so tried-and-true that its absence is more noticeable than its presence. Add some soy sauce, rice vinegar, some form of sweetener, and a little heat, and you've got a delicious cliche. This magical mixture provides the much needed personality for otherwise bland tofu and udon noodles. Crisp carrots and sugarsnap peas make it a well-rounded meal. More