Summer

Don't worry — you won't need a giant oven for this king-size tart. It's made in 4 quadrants, baked one at a time. And because the recipe uses packaged puff pastry, it's fairly simple to prepare.

To get you in the mood for summer we are grilling these pizzas, but if you aren't able to grill, you can cook them indoors in a grill pan instead.

Peyton Hughes of Iowa City, Iowa, writes: "My extended family met for a reunion in Boston a few months ago. For our last night together, we decided it would be appropriate to have dinner at Finale. I'll never forget the unusual grilled portobello salad." Farro, or spelt, is a cereal grain that's been eaten in southern Europe for ages.

This dessert is a dense and rich chocolate mousse-like cake chilled in a mold.

Ground almonds add a delicate nutty flavor to the crust. Begin making the filling a day before assembling the tart; once completed, it can be chilled another day before serving.

Since this cheesecake needs to chill for several hours, it's easiest to bake it a day ahead of time.

Fresh corn from a farmers' market or a grower's farmstand will taste the sweetest.

Sformato D'Asparagi con Fonduta This savory flan has an intense asparagus flavor. Its texture is unusually tender for a flan, without a trace of egginess.

Regular mozzarella can be substituted for the smoked variety in this quick and easy dish.

The sauce in this recipe is also good with chicken and ham. Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

This American variation of a Chinese stir-fry—combined with a loaf of crusty bread—is a meal in itself.

Coffee ice cream, a chocolate-cookie crust and chocolate-covered coffee beans add up to a terrific party dessert. Begin making the cake one day before serving.

The topping spreads as it bakes, forming a crisp cookie-like layer.

We tried this recipe with several brands and varieties of beans, and Goya's small white beans held their shape the best.