With the holidays upon us, gather loved ones together for an Italian feast. The winter months beg for comfort food and there’s no better way to nourish the soul than hearty dishes with robust flavors. Add a bottle of Chianti and a red-checkered tablecloth and let the celebration begin.

Create these award-winning dishes from the second-annual Maggiano’s Little Italy recipe contest. Still hungry? Judges’ picks from last year’s contest are featured in Recipes for a Cure, a new cookbook that also includes dishes from the 5280 family, the Broncos, 9News, and crowd pleasers from Maggiano’s. Proceeds from the cookbook go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Recipes for a Cure ($12) can be purchased at the Tattered Cover, Maggiano’s, and Broncos’ retail outlets at Invesco Field at Mile High and Dove Valley.