Mascarpone

Creamy mascarpone cheese and pureed roasted pumpkin are blended with just a delicious touch of cinnamon to make an interesting sauce for the fettuccine starter. Uncork a Dolcetto.

Celery root gives the potatoes an intriguing new taste; mascarpone cheese provides the ultimate in creaminess.

Mascarpone gives a tangy contrast to the sweetness of pears that have been poached in vanilla-scented white wine.

Ultra-rich mascarpone in the batter produces an extraordinarily creamy cheesecake. The cheesecake must be chilled at least six hours before serving.

"During parents' weekend at Bowdoin College here in Brunswick, a group of us went to Rachel's Wood Grill, a restaurant in nearby Portland," says Jennifer Buechner of Brunswick, Maine. "Dinner was great, but the tiramisù we had for dessert was out of this world. I'd love to serve it for a graduation dinner." A perfect do-ahead dessert for a party.

These parfaits (or budini — Italian for "puddings") of ultra-creamy mascarpone layered with Marsala-soaked strawberries perfectly illustrate the way of dessert in Italy: utterly simple, not too sweet, and delicious.

These are also a lovely brunch dish. Buying prepared crepes (available in the produce section of some supermarkets) can save time.

Sour cream can be substituted for the mascarpone, but the polenta won't be as rich.

Newly opened this year, the upscale but unfussy Maestro is a modern Italian restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner outside Washington, D.C. The open kitchen is the focal point of the room, but it doesn't have to be the center of attention — the cooks talk to one another through headsets, keeping the noise level down. The dining room's large windows offer a view of the nearby capital. An elegant rendition of tiramisù is the restaurant's signature dessert. Gelatin helps the creamy mascarpone filling set, making this classic dessert easy to cut and beautiful to serve. We've simplified the restaurant's recipe for home cooks.

This salad was inspired by one we had in Rome that was made with Stracchino cheese, but we've used mascarpone, which makes an admirable and accessible substitute. (Stracchino, a springtime cheese, is difficult to find here, even in season.) Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 25 min

Creamy panna cotta imbued with mascarpone, espresso, cocoa, and booze is everything you love about classic Italian tiramisu in a lusciously wobbly package.

Two of our all-time favorite desserts, now in one new classic.

Caramelized bananas in a boozy, butterscotch-y sauce served over creamy mascarpone makes for a delicious dessert paying homage to a classic.