Buttermilk

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.

Chili powder and chopped jalapeño add a touch of heat to this smooth appetizer. Try sprinkling it with chopped red onion for some crunch and color.

Versatile breads that are good served with cheese, spread with butter and jam at teatime, or paired with a main-course salad.

Low-fat buttermilk and nonfat yogurt provide the base in a refreshing, tangy soup.

Don't be intimidated by the amount of hot pepper sauce in the marinade; the chicken will pick up only some of the heat.

The unusual combination of mushrooms and dried apricots makes for a delicious and earthy soda bread.

Almond paste in the shortcake biscuits and fresh berries glazed with red currant preserves give this dessert a Swedish accent.

Simmering cobs in the corn-broth mixture gives the soup extra flavor.

"While in San Diego recently, we stumbled upon Cafe 222, a great place for breakfast that serves the most incredible pumpkin waffles," writes Debbie Weber of Loveland, Colorado. "We would love your help in getting this recipe." We found that these waffles work best when made in a Belgian waffle iron.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 35 min

For variety, sprinkle berries, nuts or chocolate chips over the pancakes before turning them over on the griddle.

When our executive food editor, Zanne Stewart, was growing up, her family spent summers in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This recipe was inspired by a dish of chicken and dumplings she remembers well from those vacations.

Vanilla and Almond Frosting is an accompaniment for this recipe.

The fennel seeds add a nice dimension to these tender scones.

For more information about melting chocolate, see Meltdown.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

Although fresh dark sweet cherries are available in June, we believe they're best eaten out of hand. This cobbler makes great use of frozen cherries. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

My mom ate a lot of things — frogs' legs, escargots, sweetbreads — that horrified me as a child, but I took to caviar right away. She didn't use the good stuff, but even made with supermarket roe, this dish makes an elegant impression. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min (includes making pancakes)