Citrus

Refreshing and absolutely delicious. Mix up this treat in the morning, and it will be frozen in time to help beat the heat by the early afternoon.

A nice side dish for a casual picnic or for a fancier meal with grilled chicken or seafood.

This chicken is delicious over rice or pasta, which absorbs the tangy sauce. A salad and some crusty French bread would be fine accompaniments.

There will be plenty of leftover biscotti for afternoon coffee breaks.

Jack's in San Francisco offers this nice, old-fashioned salad.

The asparagus and orange segments are arranged in a sunburst pattern on a large platter, with baby greens and sliced red onion in the center.

Serve this dish with steamed white rice to catch all the juices.

One of our food editors has made wedding cakes for family and friends and, in fact, made her own, based on the following recipe. The techniques involved are straightforward, although the endeavor takes a bit of planning, the proper equipment, and sufficient freezer and/or refrigerator space. Once you have all the components ready to go, allow 3 to 4 hours for assembling the cake, depending on your level of experience.

Pears and walnuts are often seen growing side by side in wine-country orchards. They make ideal partners in this delicate, old-fashioned dessert.

The prepared poppy seed filling is available in the kosher food section of most supermarkets across the country.

Using orange juice instead of water in the crust enhances the fruit flavors in the filling. To prevent the dough from sticking, lightly flour the work surface and the dough, sprinkling with more flour as needed; also, roll just to the edges of the dough, not over them, rotating the dough often.

This recipe was created to accompany Gingersnap and Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches .

Honey and dried currants add sweetness.

The bûche de Noël, or Christmas log, was created in the late nineteenth century by Parisian pastry chefs, who were inspired by the real logs that burned on hearths throughout the night on Christmas Eve. Our version can be decorated with Candied Cranberries or fresh currants.

We recommend french fries and a watercress and pickled beet salad as accompaniments; try chocolate cupcakes for dessert.