Baking

This luscious homespun treat is great with vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Sardinia, Italy Diamond-shaped papassinas are especially good with a cup of coffee. The flavor of these cookies gets even better after a few days.

Jason Corrigan, of A Touch of Garlic in Springfield, Massachusetts, writes: "As the chef at a small Italian restaurant, I have only two nights per week off. That's when I like to come up with simple dishes that my four-year-old daughter and I can make together at home. Well, mostly she just does a lot of pouring and stirring, but she loves to help. I hope one day her younger sister will, too." Make and chill these a day ahead for a treat that doesn't require much last-minute effort.

Frangipane is typically a ground almond filling; here, walnuts are used in a similar preparation. You can make the frangipane and cut out the pastry one day ahead.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 45 min

Bright red berries and a sour cream topping make this luscious cheesecake a Christmas favorite at the Old Manor Estate & Hotel on Nevis. Begin preparing the dessert a day before you plan to serve it.

A bowl of fresh fruit and some mixed nuts would be very nice go-withs here.

These look very pretty when presented on a plate of sliced strawberries.

A quick almond crust gets filled with ice cream and topped with cardamom-scented whipped cream and berries.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

A delicious, healthful breakfast treat.