Simmer

Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese sold at many supermarkets and Italian markets.

Chiffon Pie, with its light, billowy filling, can't help but bring to mind the sheer, silky fabric it's named for. Soft, mousse-like lemon filling; crunchy, gingery crust — a super combo.

This dessert is easy and indulgent.

Why "soda jerk"? Because two kinds of pop lend the right dose of sweetness.

A light syrup, laced with the refreshing lemony-floral taste of verbena, and a scoop of cassis sorbet amplify the tug-of-war between sweet and tart in a bowl of mixed summer fruits.

In the Middle East, this dish is made with dandelion greens or Swiss chard. Here, spinach substitutes, and the tahini takes care of the exotic flair.

Only in summer, when baby vegetables are so wonderful and elegant looking, could a one-skillet side dish seem so fancy. A gentle simmer and just a little olive oil and butter enhance the vegetables' natural sweetness — no more effort is necessary.

Traditional Scandinavian fare, this rich stew is comfort food at its best — think chicken potpie without the crust. Boiled potatoes are the perfect starch to balance the sweet carrots and parsnips.

This dramatic, gorgeous terrine isn't just visually arresting; it's also absolutely delicious — and such a sophisticated change of pace from a salad to start the meal. We used beets, haricots verts, and wax beans here, but feel free to improvise if other vegetables look tempting at your local farmers market; you'll need a total of 6 cups of cooked vegetables. Since the vegetables are cooked until very tender — a knife should be able to cut through them without resistance — the terrine slices beautifully.

For a berry swirl, add some sweetened crushed raspberries during the last minute of churning. The swirl may become icy after the ice cream is frozen, so soften slightly before serving.

Lamb shoulder is meltingly tender here, and a natural partner for earthy-sweet artichokes.

Favas lend a fresh note here. For the most robust flavor, use tuna packed in olive oil rather than water.

Unlike a traditional risotto, this easy side dish for the stew needs barely any stirring at all.

Enfrijoladas This simple vegetarian meal is traditionally served as breakfast or as a light supper. It is great alone or with eggs.

With authentic Asian flavor, this soup is a perfect light supper.

This rich, creamy chocolate sauce is perfect on ripe strawberries, but it's so versatile it might also be just what your favorite dessert has been missing.

These crisp-tender, mildly spiced beans are novel enough to be interesting, familiar enough to be comforting.

Roasting the berries intensifies their flavor. Try substituting basil for the tarragon.