Blueberry

A creamy fruit filling goes between split Cardamom Biscuits for a beautiful dessert.

Here's a great combination of colors and flavors that add up to a pretty and refreshing seasonal finale.

From Figtree's Cafe in Venice, California.

Here's a nice summer dessert from the Fore Street restaurant.

The ideal summer dessert and make-ahead treat (it can chill for two days before serving). Instead of the traditional custard, whipped cream folded into cream cheese is the easy filling in this version.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 35 min

There are only five employees at The Little Rooster Cafe, a small breakfast and lunch spot, but its terrific food and friendly service make it popular with locals and tourists (especially those who come to browse the town's outlet stores). Chef and co-owner Hub Poelmann features a different waffle every day. "We have an open kitchen," he says. "People smell the waffles cooking, and then order them." Poelmann credits his cooks with this lemon-poppy seed recipe, which was the happy result of "playing around in the kitchen." These light waffles would also be good with maple syrup, if you prefer.

Using frozen blueberries in the batter will keep the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the pan as the cake bakes.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Blueberries top a creamy light mousse in this terrific dessert. It can be made a day ahead, then garnished with the white chocolate shavings before serving.

Crumbled amaretti add great crunch and nice almond flavor to this layered dessert.