Berry

Baked yams and steamed spinach make colorful accompaniments. Ice cream alongside hot apple turnovers tops off the meal.

In this recipe there will be extra mousse and pecan crisps (the recipes will not work if reduced). Both elements are delicious on their own.

Cardamom adds a lovely accent to the compote and the filling, which is made with soft farmer cheese for creamy texture.

This recipe requires a little advance planning — the yogurt will need to drain for at least 8 hours.

Begin preparing this lovely dessert at least five hours before serving.

Cornmeal in the crust gives a nice contrast to the creamy filling in this dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/4hr

Rote Grütze "My husband and I always have the Rote Grütze at the Kempinski Hotel Atlantic when in Hamburg, Germany," says Mary Futchik of Naples, Florida. "Could you could help us get the recipe?" Consider this a cross between a spoonable pudding and a fruit soup.

This softly set ice cream isn't churned, so you don't need an ice cream maker.

Rich, refreshing and easy — the perfect finale to an elegant summer dinner.

A delightful new take on shortcakes. Adding a bit of gelatin to the cream helps maintain its volume when whipped.

Brandysnaps are popular in Scotland, and lemon curd is a British fixture. Here is a double treat of lemon curd: Some goes into the ice cream; the rest is offered as a sauce.

Pudding is a term that is used interchangeably with dessert in Ireland, so not all Irish puddings are the milk-based treats Americans think of when they hear the word. Here's a fine example: a pretty dessert of bread and assorted sweetened berries are in season, but many people want to eat this delicious pudding even when fresh berries aren't available. Fortunately, frozen ones work just as well. Begin preparing this a day before serving so that it can set up overnight.

As a child, I was a picky eater and this cobbler was especially hard for me to take, since it's sort of an ugly dish. After being threatened with a trip to the doctor for vitamin shots, I did start eating more, and the cobbler turned out to be one of my favorites. It's a classic North Carolina recipe and is one of my mom's signature dishes. It's so simple and takes no time to make.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 9 1/2 hr (includes cooling and chilling)