Summer

This sauce accompanies Ginger, Fig and Cranberry Semifreddo . It's also great drizzled over vanilla ice cream.

Before grilling the pineapple, be sure to preheat your grill rack and then clean it with a metal brush to remove any bits of previously grilled food, which can give an off flavor to the pineapple. This recipe makes great use of the Börner V-slicer*. Other adjustable-blade slicers also work well, but if you don't have one, you can use a sharp 10-inch chef's knife. The smooth-sided tart in our photo was made in a springform pan, but since the crust is very delicate, it's much easier and less likely to break when made in a round tart pan with a removable bottom as called for in the recipe below. Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Chopped toffee candy gives orange-scented vanilla ice cream a surprise crunch in this easy and innovative dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Also good made with melon or oranges.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

In this rendition of a classic antipasto, fresh herbs infuse the olive oil marinades, which double as dressings.

When cleaning any fresh berries, place in a strainer, rinse very lightly with the sink spray hose, shake the strainer to drain water and gently pat dry with paper towels.

If you'd like to make the jalapeño-lime butter one day ahead, use a broiler or gas burner to char the chiles and save the grill prep for the corn.

This cobbler is wonderful after the chipotle-honey glazed pork (frankly, it's wonderful after anything).

Spectacular but easy, thanks to purchased ice cream and sorbet. The meringue is browned in the broiler, like a baked Alaska, just before serving.

For a shiny finish, brush the warm tart with melted apricot preserves.

Brandied peaches and spiced crabapples can be found in the specialty foods section of most supermarkets. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.