Berry

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

An easy side dish for ham or chicken. The dressing can be made a day ahead.

Fresh blackberries are plentiful in July and August, but since we must use frozen in the winter, be sure they're individually quick-frozen (available in plastic bags in the supermarket). Don't use berries packed in syrup.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Perfect for the Fourth of July. If you like, garnish the sundaes with maraschino cherries, small American flags and edible sugar stars.

"The citrus-Champagne granita was the perfect ending to a dinner I had at The Harvest in Pomfret, Connecticut," writes Phyllis A. Nigris of Johnston, Rhode Island. "I love this type of cool, refreshing dessert, so I would be grateful if you could obtain the recipe."

Purchased sorbet, frozen yogurt and pound cake make this the season's quickest elegant dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Prepared puff pastry makes this easy.

Few desserts are as comforting or satisfying as a simple egg custard. Here we've dressed things up a bit with some extra spice and a fruit compote.

Russian cheesecakes, like this one served at The Kaleenka in Seattle, are lighter and drier than most American versions. The texture comes from a dry-curd cheese (known here a hoop cheese) common to Russian cooking.

Refreshing in looks and taste, these light fruit sorbets served in a colorful raspberry sauce are perfect after a filling seder meal. There will be leftovers of each sorbet to enjoy later.

Light cookies are filled with dessert-wine ice cream and fruit. The recipe makes about six cookies, so there's an allowance for breakage or extras for nibbling.

It's a snap to make this delicious low-fat dessert-you don't even need an ice cream maker. The ice has a refreshing texture with an appealing crunch.