Fruit Dessert

This recipe was created to prepare <epi:recipeLink ="14264">Apricot Almond Shortbreads</epi:recipeLink>.<P> You will need three mini-muffin pans, each containing twelve 1 3/4-by-1 inch cups.

If you can't find blood oranges in your supermarket, you can substitute regular navel oranges in both the tart and the Orange Caramel Sauce.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. When blood oranges are out of season, you can use any type of seedless orange.

Begin making this ultra-creamy flan (think crème brûlée) one day before serving.

Raw sugar crystals (sold at natural foods stores and some supermarkets) are baked onto the edges of the free-form crust.

"I had never been especially fond of bread pudding, but I changed my mind when I tried the one served at The Winchester Country Inn in Ashland, Oregon," says Sandra Miller of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. "Their version is outstanding; it's studded with apricots and topped with a rich caramel sauce." Croissants and a Grand Marnier custard make this bread pudding super-decadent. It's great with or without the Caramel Sauce; if you're short on time, substitute a purchased sauce.

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

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 45 min

Ambrosia is fruit dessert that is also a salad. We Southerners always add it to Thanksgiving and Christmas menus to allow us to have the illusion that we're not in too much trouble with our diets, because after all, "We only had ambrosia for dessert!" The better the oranges in it, the better it is. Splurge and get flavor-filled navel oranges if you can. In any case, seedless oranges are a must. If there are going to be children at the meal, you can add maraschino cherries—sans stems. My mother always did, perhaps because one of my treasured memories from childhood was when my father took me to the men's club and ordered me a Shirley Temple with a maraschino cherry. I ate nearly a whole bottle, thanks to the indulgent waiter.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 hr

When using an outdoor grill, add a handful of fresh charcoal to the embers after serving the main course; when it's time to cook the nectarines, the fire should be at the right temperature. Remember to brush the grill clean before adding the fruit. Sour cream is a good substitute for the crème fraîche.

Vibrant berry flavor and a buttery crust accented with grated orange peel are the hallmarks of this outstanding pie.

This is a lovely, low-fat version of a classic English fruit dessert.

Here's another old-fashioned dessert that's on the come back trail.

Canned mangoes are excellent in this dessert if ripe fresh ones are unavailable. Use a drained (1-lb 14-oz) can of mango slices in syrup. If the canned fruits you buy are Alphonso mangoes (our favorite variety of mango), add an additional 1/2 cup cream.

If you don't have a cherry pitter, use the side of a knife to crush each cherry against the work surface. Once the flesh has been separated, remove the pit. Be sure to wear an apron; cherries tend to squirt when crushed.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.