Stone Fruit

Here is a beautiful and inventive salad that combines hearty beets, sweet-tart plums and tangy goat cheese.

Great with grilled chicken, tuna, salmon, swordfish or shrimp.

We particularly liked this sandwich on slipper-shaped ciabatta bread, although any type of soft Italian bread is suitable.

Here's a bright and refreshing salad. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

(COMPOSTA DI CILIEGE E ALBICOCCHE) Delicious with the Rice Pudding Cake or with biscotti or vanilla ice cream.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Our Cuban-style mango mojo could enhance any grilled meat, as could the anise-seed rub. Adding our grilled asparagus and herbed bulgur creates a well-rounded meal, but rice and green beans or broccoli would also work. Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 35 min

To make the nori rolls in this recipe we used a bamboo sushi mat*, available at the sources noted below. Alternatively, a 9-inch square of heavy-duty foil can be used.

This torte has a crisp top that shatters when cut and a fudgy tart cherry center.

This lovely dessert combines the flavors of cherries jubilee in an easier rendition of the classic recipe.

This southern version of the holiday cranberry sauce includes peaches, one of the region's favorite fruits.

Marinate the cheese for a couple of hours, then assemble the salad just before serving.

A rainbow of four purchased sorbets plus vanilla ice cream make this beauty one of the easiest desserts ever. Prepare the stunning terrine up to four days ahead.

In Thailand, mangoes often appear on the table for dessert — served both on their own and incorporated into a sweetened sticky rice. If you can't get your hands on really good mangoes, you'll find that canned mango purée delivers the best flavor for this ice cream. However, many canned brands taste like peaches, so we recommend Ratna brand, which uses Alphonso mangoes, an Indian cultivar renowned for its bright orange flesh and very intense flavor. Ka-Me brand is a runner-up — the recipe will work fine, but the color and flavor will not be as intense. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 17 3/4 hr (includes chilling and freezing)

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

These plums nicely complement pork or lamb chops. You can slip off the skins before eating if you like.