Summer

It's hard to believe that this sweet, crunchy, and smoky salsa has only six calories per serving.

When a generous garnish of pesto gets stirred in, the soup turns a vibrant green and becomes perfumed with the intense and sweet aroma of basil mixed with garlic.

Preparing the zucchini for this dish won't heat up your kitchen — simply salting thin slices is enough to tenderize them. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

The "black bottom" is a layer of superb chocolate pudding — plus a chocolate cookie crust. The pie must be chilled overnight before the topping is added.

Plum fans take note: The jam recipe here is a stand-alone bonus, especially if that tree in the garden is overloaded. (You can triple the jam recipe below for a yield of two generous cups and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.) Pastry novices should also note that this is one napoleon that holds together beautifully when sliced — so go for it.

This sauce is basted on the meat as it grills. It would also be great served alongside; the recipe doubles easily.

I don't know if it's because of all the hot dogs I ate on the sidewalks of New York as a kid, but I never seem to get tired of mustard. I use it as a background flavor in a lot of my sauces, but in this one mustard is front and center. Use a whole-grain mustard, such as Pommery de Meaux from France, so that your sauce has a nice crunch from the whole seeds.

Using frozen blueberries in the batter will keep the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the pan as the cake bakes.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 30 min

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 40 min

A brandied custard filling makes a wonderful backdrop for ripe apricots.

To make this recipe even easier to prepare, substitute three tablespoons diced canned green chilies for the fresh Anaheim chili.

A lovely combination of apricots and cherries tops a tender crust in this great summertime treat. Serve it with lightly sweetened whipped cream.

Although these are called fritters, they more closely resemble pancakes. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Mint chip ice cream (or the flavor of your choice) is the filling between tender chocolate cookies that have been dipped halfway into white chocolate.