Stone Fruit

Brown sugar, almonds and oats combine for a crunchy topping in this lovely dessert. A touch of kirsch, a clear cherry brandy, enhances the fruit.

Serve the curry with steamed white rice and Indian beer, and make a stop at an Indian restaurant to get some samosas — savory filled pastries — to pass as appetizers, and the flatbread called naan to sop up the curry sauce. For dessert, how about assorted teas and a carrot cake?

Here's a great-tasting, visually stunning treat that can be made up to a week ahead.

Strawberries, blueberries, nectarines and vanilla ice cream team up in a quick sundae.

Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 3 hr (plus 1 day for flavors to develop)

This Martini from Red Light is blended with ice, which makes it similar in texture to a daiquiri. The bartender garnishes it with skewered berries for a nice touch.

This recipe was created to accompany Seared Rosemary Scallops . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A sophisticated dessert that is great on its own, mixed with sweet berries or used as a topping for ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Use a cherry pitter to remove the pits before cutting the cherries in half.

Elderflowers, with their subtle, honeyed sweetness, are often paired with gooseberries in English cookery. In this particular recipe pink gooseberries are best; the green ones are too tart.

Light, refreshing and very sophisticated. Asian pears have a crisp texture, a round shape, and a sweet and floral aroma that's quite unlike that of the more familiar buttery "pear-shaped" pear.

Try this with grilled lamb chops, pork, or chicken.