Sour Cream

A simple but elegant cold dish. The sauce can be made a day in advance.

With a crust fashioned after the popular cookie, this tart features a dark and white chocolate mocha filling. It's really more like candy and should be cut into small wedges.

To create a basket-weave design, follow the instructions at the bottom of the recipe.

Perfect with a cup of tea, especially a nicely spiced Indian chai.

Sour cream can be substituted for the mascarpone, but the polenta won't be as rich.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tender banana cake, Cream Cheese Frosting and Mango Curd (see recipes) stack up to one impressive dessert.

Before grilling the pineapple, be sure to preheat your grill rack and then clean it with a metal brush to remove any bits of previously grilled food, which can give an off flavor to the pineapple. This recipe makes great use of the Börner V-slicer*. Other adjustable-blade slicers also work well, but if you don't have one, you can use a sharp 10-inch chef's knife. The smooth-sided tart in our photo was made in a springform pan, but since the crust is very delicate, it's much easier and less likely to break when made in a round tart pan with a removable bottom as called for in the recipe below. Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Traditionally served with tea in the afternoon, scones are lovely at brunch, too.

This luscious frozen dessert can be made without an ice cram maker. Begin preparing the recipe at least one day ahead.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. We used osetra caviar for this hors d'oeuvre, but feel free to substitute your favorite. Any leftover caviar can be used to brighten up a number of dishes, from scrambled eggs to pasta.