Fruit

It doesn't get any cooler than halo-halo, the Filipino treat with a base of fluffy shaved ice. Macerating the fruit makes it extra juicy and saucy, but you could just throw in any unadulterated berry. The key to this dessert (as with any sundae) is a mix of textures: icy, creamy, chewy, crunchy.

I love crunchy fennel and peppery arugula dressed with a slightly sweet dressing made from Meyer lemons—a fresh-tasting pick-me-up. Meyer lemons are only available in the wintertime, so if you can’t find them, use regular lemon juice and replace a third of it with fresh orange juice.

A ripe cantaloupe is one of the most intoxicating pieces of produce under the sun—use it creatively.

If the dough starts to soften as you form these, pop it back in the fridge for ten minutes to firm back up.

Poached frozen peaches eat like fruit-shaped sorbet and look like a three-dimensional sunset.

Layers of graham cracker, lemony mascarpone (or Greek yogurt), and blueberry–chia seed jam freeze in a loaf pan to become the easiest cake you’ve ever made.

Parbaking the crust of this blueberry pancake–flavored custard pie ensures the bottom will be crisp when it’s done.

After you finish pickling the strawberries, hang on to the brine, which can be used in place of mild vinegars.

Preserve those last summer berries with this quick and easy jam. Then slather it on toast, whisk it into a fruity salad dressing, or swirl into store-bought ice cream.

If you love corn muffins and blueberry jam, you’ll love this seasonal dessert.

Scallops: so meaty and delicious and yet so easy to overcook. That’s why we sear these on only one side, preserving the meltingly tender, near-raw texture on the other end.

Fresh cantaloupe + coconut make for the perfect summer cocktail.

Slightly bruised or wrinkled stone fruit is ideal for making the infused syrup; peaches and nectarines work too.