Alcohol

Cachaça is a potent sugarcane liquor. If you can’t find it, use light rum instead.

Like a creamy orange ice-cream pop, this cocktail marries vanilla and orange. But the drink includes two liqueurs, so it’s for adults only.

We love our sweet twist on a daiquiri: mango mixed with dark rum, sugar syrup, and lemon juice (in place of the traditional lime).

If you prefer to serve alcohol-free cocktails, omit the tequila—the drink is still delicious.

Chanterais melons, also called Cavaillon, are a delicious alternative to cantaloupes. Look for them at farmers’ markets and gourmet stores.

Pineapple and coconut rum give this drink the taste of the tropics.

For spiked drinks, pour 1 ounce vodka over ice into each glass before topping with limeade.

Cooking blintzes takes a bit of practice. A nonstick skillet is a great help. The first blintz is almost never perfect; just discard it and start again. The blintzes can be made through step 4 up to 2 hours ahead.

The buckwheat flour adds a deep, assertive flavor to this dessert; the flour is also highly nutritious.