Blueberry

A real special-occasion entrée. Rich Muscovy duck breasts, sold at specialty foods stores, are larger and meatier than others.

Lemon curd, lemon-cornmeal shortcakes, blueberry sauce and fresh blueberries are teamed in a winning dessert.

We always had this coffeecake for birthday breakfasts and other special occasions. Even when we lived far away from Maine, the smell brought us back to Bar Harbor.

In a fresh interpretation of the classic Italian dessert, we've replaced the traditional chocolate and coffee with berries and fruit liqueur. For a garnish, we like the looks of fresh berries, but we used frozen berries in the filling to keep it moist. They're also more uniform in flavor--and less expensive.

Begin making these frozen treats at least one day before serving.

"My husband, Don, and I made dinners together when we were first getting to know each other," writes Lisa Pendelton of Pasadena, California. "I was surprised to discover that everything from food shopping to sharing in the kitchen came so naturally to him. We had a lot of great meals, and once he spent all day making me a bouillabaisse for my birthday. That's when I knew I could definitely marry him."

Vibrant berry flavor and a buttery crust accented with grated orange peel are the hallmarks of this outstanding pie.

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.

This summer pudding yields 6 servings, allowing second helpings for a party of 4 or a breakfast treat for the next morning. In addition to an 8-inch square glass baking dish, you will also need another one, glass or metal, of the same size.

The flavors of this salad go well with honey-glazed grilled chicken or pork chops.

The clever topping is made with a cake mix.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.