Citrus
Kumquat Caipirinha
Eben Freeman, bartender of Tailor Restaurant in New York City, developed this version of a classic Brazilian cocktail made with cachaca (sugarcane rum). Freeman's adaptations include substituting kumquats for the usual limes and sweetening the drink with turbinado sugar, whose rough crystals help break up the kumquats. He also adds a soy-caramel sauce—which gives the drink a salty-sweet depth—but it can be omitted. If you do opt to make the sauce, note that you'll end up with more than you need for the drink, but it keeps in the refrigerator for up to a month.
By Eben Freeman
Reposado Margarita
Eben Freeman, bartender of Tailor Restaurant in New York City, developed this adaptation of a classic cocktail. Reposado tequila, aged in oak for at least two months but less than a year, gives the drink a smooth smokiness. If you prefer a more vegetal flavor, you could substitute blanco (unaged) tequila; it's probably best to steer clear of añejo (aged in oak for at least a year but less than three years), which could darken the hue and add unwanted oak, vanilla, or caramel flavors.
To sweeten his Margarita, Freeman trades the traditional sugar syrup for superfine sugar, which gives the drink a slightly grainy texture. Freeman's final signature touch: Only half the glass gets a salted rim.
By Eben Freeman
Daiquiri
Eben Freeman, bartender of Tailor Restaurant in New York City, developed this adaptation of the classic rum-lime-sugar cocktail.
By Eben Freeman
Cherry-Lime Cobbler with Vanilla Créme Fraîche Biscuits
In this modern take on cobbler, the biscuits are baked separately rather than on top of the filling. You can also serve this shortcake-style by splitting the biscuits and topping them with the filling and a generous dollop of crème fraîche.
By Lori Longbotham
Meyer Lemon Semifreddo With Summer Berries
This dessert is like a frozen mousse, which helps explain its name: semifreddo, or "half-frozen."
By Maria Helm Sinskey
Sugar Snap Peas with Mint and Orange
By Maria Helm Sinskey
Wild Arugula Salad with Garlic Croutons, Shaved Parmesan, and Lemon
By Maria Helm Sinskey
Lemon Fettuccine with Broccoli and Pancetta "Croutons"
Thick slices of pancetta are cubed and fried for the tastiest croutons ever.
By Rozanne Gold
Cucumber-Lime Agua
For a sweeter take on this cool spa drink, add 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar or agave nectar, available at Whole Foods, other natural foods stores, and at wildorganics.net.
By Amelia Saltsman
Sweet, Tart, and Spicy Shrimp and Cucumber Salad
A satisfying first-course salad with beautifully balanced Asian flavors.
By Amelia Saltsman
Scandinavian Ceviche
By Linnea Johansson
Strawberries in Orange and Caramel Sauce
By Shelley Wiseman
Moroccan-Style Preserved Lemons
Preserved lemons are perhaps most at home in Moroccan dishes, but we love their complex, bright flavor and aroma in all kinds of soups, stews, and salads. We've adapted Mediterranean-food authority Paula Wolfert's quick method and made it even faster by blanching the lemons first. If you manage to find Meyer lemons, this is a great way to capture their unforgettable taste and perfume.
Chile Peanuts
By Roberto Santibañez
Lemon-Pepper Popovers
We know these monster biscuits look like gougères on steroids, but we promise there are no illicit performance-enhancing ingredients at work here: just an egg-rich batter that (naturally) bakes up big.
By Ian Knauer
Elderflower Jelly with Honeydew Melon
Inspired by the floral qualities of Japanese teas and sweets, this cool jelly's lightly flowery flavor is enhanced by orange Muscat.
By Maggie Ruggieri
Lemon Curd Tart With Olive Oil
Our Europe correspondent, Alexander Lobrano, was wary of working with pastry long before attending his course at Les Petits Farcis, in Nice. "This recipe is really genius," he says. "I'm more of a savory/stewing type of cook, but this is so easy and works so well that it's become a staple for me." Olive oil in the crust gives it a rich, crumbly texture, and the zing of the lemon filling really steals the show.
By Rosa Jackson
Spicy Crab Spaghettini With Preserved Lemon
Our Australia correspondent, Pat Nourse, attended the Sydney Seafood School. The combination of flavors here is quintessentially Australian, inspired by far-flung sources and joined together in a unique way. The brininess of preserved lemons brings out the sweetness of the king crab you'll find in each twirl of pasta.