Nut

Serve over vanilla ice cream and top with whipped cream.

Very nice for a fancy dinner party, these little tartlets have an almond crust, tangy lemon filling and strawberries on top.

Fill these with sorbet and/or sliced fresh fruit.

These chewy cookies are great with ice cream, espresso or a glass of Marsala.

Miso—rather than oil—lends body and flavor to the dressing.

Sardinia, Italy Diamond-shaped papassinas are especially good with a cup of coffee. The flavor of these cookies gets even better after a few days.

This sprightly first course is a cinch to put together.

Frangipane is typically a ground almond filling; here, walnuts are used in a similar preparation. You can make the frangipane and cut out the pastry one day ahead.

"The recipes here reflect my British roots, but not necessarily my family traditions," writes Mairi Morrison of London, England. "Although my mother is from Scotland and my father is from Northern Ireland, I grew up in Los Angeles, where our weeknight meals were typically American: spaghetti, tacos, and burgers. It wasn't until I moved to Europe that I became really interested in food. Here in London my social life is centered around the table. I really like this dish because it is typically British, and perfect for a rainy winter evening in London." Make these ahead if you like (they will keep for a week in the fridge) or make them on a whim, since the recipe is so easy. Lyle's Golden Syrup is a popular British sweetener with a flavor that's similar to mild honey.

A lovely twist on the traditional pear and blue cheese pairing. Tender lamb's lettuce and toasted walnuts provide great contrasting textures. Use a vegetable peeler to make thin shavings of Parmesan.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A bowl of fresh fruit and some mixed nuts would be very nice go-withs here.

A quick almond crust gets filled with ice cream and topped with cardamom-scented whipped cream and berries.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr