Summer

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A light and pretty treat with intense fruit flavors.

Tender shortcakes accented with fresh and candied ginger are delicious complements to the strawberry filling.

The addition of the Italian aperitif Campari to fresh orange juice gives a slightly bitter taste to this light and refreshing dessert.

This dessert is based on an old-fashioned Russian kissel—traditionally a sweetened fruit purée thickened with potato starch, which gives it a puddinglike consistency. We've left the berries whole in order to achieve a more interesting look and texture and substituted cornstarch for the thickener as it's more readily available in the States.

I recommend that you strain the blackberry mixture, because the little seeds will only get caught in your teeth.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This appealing do-ahead dessert, perfect for a picnic, can be formed ahead and frozen. Just thaw, then bake and cool.

Like cobbler, but even better. This is crowned with cinnamon shortcakes—slightly crisp on the outside and delicate within—that require no kneading or rolling. We call for frozen peach slices, so this is a year-round treat.

In this take on a classic salad, we combine bulgur with the usual tomatoes, green onions, parsley and mint, then add garbanzo beans and broiled lamb for a change of pace.

Salsa de Tomatillos y Lima This tart, mildly spicy, and bright green salsa is so delicious that you might want to double the recipe to have extra on hand. It's great mixed into guacamole or veggie sautés (for a little tangy kick). Or try it as a topping for anything from nachos to scrambled eggs to baked potatoes. This recipe is an accompaniment for Oval Masa Cakes with Goat Cheese Filling .

Frangipane is a classic pastry filling made with ground almonds. Here, pistachios are used instead.

If smoked paprika isn't available, substitute four teaspoons of chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, which are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores, and in the Latin American foods section of many supermarkets.

Here's an easy granita (a grown up snow cone). If you like, top it off just before serving with a diced melon salad made from cubes of cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon that have been tossed with a bit of sugar and thinly sliced fresh mint leaves.

Try this as part of a barbecue buffet.

It's actually a clam boil, and it’s prepared on the stove top. The secret is to layer the ingredients, like clams, lobsters, potatoes, and sausages, in one pot so that the flavors mingle during cooking.

An almond-scented pudding layered with blackberries and blackberry preserves makes a nice finale.