Brandy

This is said to be the cavalryman's answer to Artillery Punch.

Resist the temptation to use soft-ripe pears in this recipe as they will disintegrate during cooking and produce too much liquid.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time. A fantastic ice-cream sauce.

The non-stick mini-muffin tins required for this recipe are available at many supermarkets.

The apple-essence syrup is brushed over the cake to infuse it with flavor and make it extra-moist. If you prefer, substitute apple cider for the brandy.

This very ancient dish of pickled salmon is of Swedish origin, and considered by a great many Scandinavians to be superior to smoked salmon. It must be made with fresh fish that has never been frozen, and with a plentiful supply of fresh dill weed.

"My husband, Garry, and I do a lot of business travel together these days," writes Sheryl Hurd-House of Jupiter, Florida, "so one of our favorite things is spending a very lazy Sunday morning at home reading the paper, sipping Bloody Marys, and having a nice brunch. This blueberry croissant French toast is one of my fastest, and most popular, brunch dishes. It’s Garry’s new favorite, and when our kids come to visit, they love it, too." A rich and delicious way to use leftover croissants. Sheryl always keeps some in the freezer, just in case.

June is fresh apricot season, but there are always a few that just won't seem to ripen. This dessert makes good use of those hard apricots.

It's hard to believe that something so delectable can be made so quickly. For a showy presentation, add the Cognac to the sauce and heat gently without stirring it in. Ignite with a match and spoon the flaming sauce over the ice cream.

Vanilla bean and brandy accent the cake, and a few raspberries tint the peach topping a delicate pink.

Kirsch, a cherry-flavored liqueur, brings out the flavor of the raspberries rather than masking it.

The classic dessert gets a holiday twist with eggnog flavors and an opulent presentation. Begin making this one day before serving.

Depending on the size and shape of your waffle pan, the yield for this recipe will vary. Freeze extra waffles to enjoy later. Karen Barker makes her own chocolate sauce and chocolate chip ice cream with cherries.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Impressive—and a breeze to put together. The bombe is just a layering of purchased ice cream, sorbet and cookies, and it's topped off with a store-bought fudge sauce spruced up with chocolate chips and brandy. For Valentine's Day, dress up the dessert even more with chocolate curls and maraschino cherries. Begin preparing this a day ahead.