Fall

Baked in individual ring molds, these little desserts feature caramelized pears, streusel topping and sweetened cream.

Coffee Semifreddo "Drowned" in Coffee We have served this dessert at Pó for six years and it is consistently my favorite—a kind of adult milkshake. Be careful to use decaf for the bathing liquid, or your guests may be up yakking all night.

Healthy bonus: Vitamin C and beta-carotene from the squash

This recipe originally accompanied White Chocolate Rice Pudding with Dried Cranberry Compote .

Preserved lemons are a staple Moroccan condiment that can take up to 2 weeks to make in the traditional manner. Added to various foods, they impart a tangy brininess similar to that of olives but with the unique perfume of lemon. In most Moroccan dishes only the peel is used, the pulp being scraped away and discarded. However, the pulp is not wholly without value, making a delicious addition to Bloody Marys, and to salad dressings — wherever a salty-sour taste is welcome. The recipe below is an effort to approximate preserved lemons without having to plan a week or more in advance.

There will be some leftover pastry dough after rolling out the crust and decorative leaves for the pie. The scraps make delicious snacks when pieced together and baked .

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

All of the components for this sophisticated dessert can be made the day before, then assembled quickly at the last minute. Sabayon (also called zabaglione) is a custard sauce that is whisked over hot water until it is light and foamy.

I first created this recipe at Routh Street Cafe in 1984. I've since had it on menus at five different restaurants in some form or another. It's also delicious when spread with a mixture of one part jalapeño jelly and three parts cream cheese whipped together. It's also best served warm.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This luscious homespun treat is great with vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Buttermilk Ice Cream with Spiced Fruit Compote .

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 45 min