Fruit Dessert

The cranberries add tartness, color and texture. Serve the pie with vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream, if you like.

Melting the chocolate in the pear poaching liquid makes an instant sauce.

Make oatmeal-cookie crumbs by blending cookies in a processor until finely ground.

Strawberries marinated in a vanilla-orange syrup add a new twist to these sponge-cake shortcakes. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish : 2 1/2 hr

Great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The sauce is reminiscent of that sentimental summertime favorite, the 50/50 Bar.

Minus the ice cream, this delicate pudding makes a wonderfully indulgent breakfast.

Ice cream at its easiest: crystallized ginger is mixed into softened vanilla ice cream.

This is a variation on the classic New Orleans dessert bananas Foster, created by chef Paul Blange at Brennan's Restaurant. To save time, you can use store-bought premium vanilla or butter pecan ice cream instead of homemade. Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 5 hr (includes making ice cream)

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 25 min

A "wee dram" enhances the lovely filling.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.