Electric Mixer

This cake should not be assembled until just before serving.

In most baking recipes, it is customary to see salt measured in teaspoons. The amount of salt called for in the following recipe, however, is correct for the proportion of flour used.

"I'm a social worker running my own practice," writes Susan Haskell of Boston, Massachusetts. "In addition, I'm getting a doctorate in social work. So most of my time is spent either working with patients or writing my dissertation. Still, no matter what's on my schedule, nothing can stop me from going into the kitchen. During the week, I make the time to pore over food magazines to find recipes I want to try. On Saturdays, I cook for friends — because next to cooking, sharing the results is my favorite thing to do." Susan says this can also be made with fresh cherries, sliced peaches, nectarines, or pears.

The fudge in the following recipe, with its unusually creamy texture, is too soft to serve at room temperature. It must be served chilled.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

A quick bread that's full of seasonal flavors.

This recipe calls for sand sugar or pearl sugar (both sometimes known as coarse or crystal sugar), both of which have larger grains than granulated sugar and are used for decorating baked goods. Sand sugar has slightly smaller and shinier grains than pearl sugar.

Apple cakes are among the most popular Irish sweets. In this version, a sour cream cake flavored with cinnamon, ginger and allspice is baked atop caramelized apples and then turned out like a tarte Tatin. Serve this with vanilla ice cream.

"I'm a music teacher, and baking is the extracurricular activity I like most," says Sue Reddin Ellison of Edgewater, Colorado. "This cheesecake is a family favorite as well as an impressive do-ahead dessert for entertaining. I make a similar version with pecans instead of hazelnuts; either way, everyone loves the smooth filling and the nutty crust." Begin preparing this a day before serving.

For many Southerners the holidays wouldn't be the same without coconut cake. Because coconuts can be difficult nuts to crack — especially for cooks new to the task — we offer an easy method that involves baking the coconut briefly (which does not alter the coconut's flavor appreciably). If the coconut doesn't crack while in the oven, it will once force is applied.