Fruit

Dripping with snowy-white icing and paired with fresh berries and a ruby-red currant and raspberry sauce, this sheet cake is a charming way to end a dinner party.

A semifreddo is an Italian soft-frozen custard mousse. Grappa, which is floral and just a little edgy, bumps the musky, intoxicating sweetness of the melon up a notch.

Everyone's free to be a kid again with one of these wickedly good frozen treats in hand. Chewy blondie cookies bookend a thick layer of lemony ice cream (store-bought vanilla bumped up with lemon juice and zest) ribboned with a speedy blueberry compote.

This ice cream forgoes eggs, which can mask the flavor of fresh berries. The result is an intensely-flavored dessert, so make sure you're getting the best berries you can find. (Our strawberry buying guide can help.)

Mexican aguas frescas, or "fresh waters," made from all kinds of fresh fruit, flowers, or herbs, are a great way to beat the heat. This cantaloupe version gets additional vim from a splash of club soda.

This kuchen would be terrific made with all types of stone fruit, so feel free to substitute any of your summertime favorites for the plums.

Cold noodle dishes are a great way to cool off, and since both calamari and rice-stick noodles require little cooking, the combination makes for an excellent lunch or dinner on a hot, lazy day. With its generous amount of fragrant garden herbs, this salad even smells refreshing.

Make this delicate dessert in a shallow ceramic baking dish so that when it's baked, all that's visible is a sea of golden, toasty caramelized bread slices.

Crown broiled peaches with pillows of meringue and a bit of honeyed crunch.

These muffins arelike blueberry biscuits served in a cupcake cup. They're moist, delicious, and look pretty with violet-colored glaze. Full of omega-3s and 6s, antioxidants, and vitamins, they're great in the morning with a cup of tea, juice, or smoothie.

My biggest challenge to date has been making cupcakes for a six-year-old's birthday party. This recipe, the result of many trials and taste My biggest challenge to date has been making cupcakes for a six-year-old’s birthday party. This recipe, the result of many trials and taste tests, was a huge hit with the kids, who are always our toughest fans. Packed with coconut for electrolytes, lemon juice for vitamin C, and bananas for potassium, these little gems keep us feeling great.

This delicate, floral-scented chocolate showcases lavender. To harvest fresh lavender, select the freshest-looking flowers with the fullest color. Immerse all the blooms in water a few times to remove insects and soil. Then lay the flowers on towels and pat dry or gently spin dry in a salad spinner.

If you're making these sweets for your kids, remember that chocolate (raw chocolate in particular) can be somewhat stimulating. To avoid turning bedtime into party time, it's safer to make these a daytime snack. For truffles with a completely smooth texture, a high-speed blender is preferable. Any other blender most likely won't puree the shredded coconut, so the truffles might be a little grainy (though still completely yummy).

When I tasted this sauce in Jerusalem a few years ago, I was reminded of how much I like the earthy taste of sesame tahini and the brightness of parsley—stems and all. Whip up a batch and toss it with grains and chopped carrots for a colorful salad, blend it with cooked chickpeas for a quick sandwich filling, or spoon it over microwaved kale or steamed broccoli florets set on a bed of brown rice for an entreé. The amount of garlic you'll need depends upon your taste. I like to start with two cloves and blend in more if needed—keeping in mind that the sauce's favor will be somewhat diluted when mixed with other ingredients. Refrigerate for up to one week. Thin as needed with additional fresh lemon juice—or water, if you're out of lemon.

Brandi, our fearless juice bar manager, contributed to this recipe, and I love the name. It really does feel like sunshine in a glass and is a great way to start the day.

This frozen dessert has the creamy texture of softened ice cream—but doesn't require an ice cream maker.