Grapefruit

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 3 days

Pomegranate seeds are a colorful, tangy garnish for this salad. The season for pomegranates comes to an end by mid-February, so plan ahead and buy one now (they keep for several weeks in the refrigerator). Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

A pretty, pale pink sorbet enhanced with a splash of Champagne.

A lovely array of textures and flavors. Very nice with skewers of grilled scallops or panfried salmon fillets.

This entrée from Anzu restaurant in Dallas partners Japanese miso and sake with Italian balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 hr

This surprisingly rich-tasting custard has much less fat than the classic version made with egg yolks. In another twist, we call for vin santo instead of the conventional choice, Marsala.

"The citrus-Champagne granita was the perfect ending to a dinner I had at The Harvest in Pomfret, Connecticut," writes Phyllis A. Nigris of Johnston, Rhode Island. "I love this type of cool, refreshing dessert, so I would be grateful if you could obtain the recipe."

Garnish with grapefruit, orange and lime segments if you like.

Try over frozen yogurt, ice cream, pound cake, or serve with your favorite cookies.

Light, refreshing and beautiful.

A lovely salad in which the citrus fruit strikes a nice balance with the fish.

A common ingredient in Irish baked goods, buttermilk is put to a deliciously different use here in an innovative dessert from Lacken House in Kilkenny, Ireland. The garnish of fried and sugared herb sprigs is a distinctive accent.