Rhubarb

Cooking rhubarb to the right consistency is trickier than you might think — it changes from barely tender to falling apart in a matter of seconds. Watch it carefully while it's poaching. In this recipe you’ll need to boil the rhubarb syrup to the "soft-ball stage." To determine this, just drop a small amount of syrup into a cup of cold water. If you can form it into a sticky lump that flattens when pressed, it has reached the right consistency. This technique is especially useful with small amounts of syrup, from which it can be difficult to obtain an accurate temperature reading with a thermometer.

Any extras are great cold for breakfast. As an alternative to the vanilla ice cream, top with sour cream or lowfat yogurt for a lighter interpretation.

This modern take on a classic French dessert saves time by using frozen puff pastry.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Use fresh peaches when available - six peaches should do it.

Offer cookies alongside this dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Makes use of a microwave.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This jelly is a delicious alternative to the traditional mint jelly served as an accompaniment to roasted meats such as lamb or turkey.

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 45 min

This recipe was created to accompany White Chocolate Toasted Almond Semifreddo.

The size of tapioca pearls varies widely. What one brand calls "small," another brand might term "large," so don't pay much attention to the label. Instead, look for pearls that are 1/8 to 3/16 inch in diameter for making this dessert.

Fresh rhubarb is at its peak in the spring, and this dessert makes the most of it. Use the bright red portion of the rhubarb stalks for the prettiest result. The pastry for these napoleons has a crisp caramel glaze; be sure to butter the baking sheets very well to prevent sticking.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 3 3/4 hr See how to roll out dough.

Serve the ham with baked sweet potatoes and buttered baby peas. Finish with wedges of sponge cake topped with fudge sauce.