Sour Cream

Until you've tried this dessert, you may not have tasted a pear's multiple personalities.

Preserved lemon, an essential ingredient in Moroccan cooking, is made by pickling lemons in salt, lemon juice, and olive oil. Here, preserving just the peel (begin at least a day ahead) is an easy way to add an exciting note to the crème fraäche.

**Editor's note:**This recipe is reprinted from Rose Hammick's and Charlotte Packer's book Great Parties for Kids. For Hammick's and Packer's tips on throwing a kids' summer party, click here. Hummus and guacamole served with breadsticks and veggie sticks make great finger foods for toddlers. Older children love these too, but make sure you offer a selection of breadsticks, chips, and pita bread for those few kids who turn up their noses at the sight of raw vegetables, however sweet and juicy they are.

Serve this slightly sweet soup as a cooling first course or a light dessert.

The addition of sour cream makes this creamed spinach extra-tangy and echoes the traditional sour cream served with classic potato pancakes.

Classic Mexican comfort food, minus most of the fat.

The beauty of plums becomes all the more evident when they are displayed in a galette. Accompanied by sweetened Armagnac crème fraîche, this one makes a wonderfully sophisticated dessert.

Potatoes in three colors give this salad an all-American look.

Forget placing the avocado pit in your guacamole — unless you like how it looks. It doesn't stop the dip from turning brown.

Expect a line to form when you unveil this stunning dessert. It's swirled throughout with tangy lemon curd, which amplifies the richness of the surrounding cheesecake.

A simple seasoning of salt and pepper leaves this steak ready for an assertive horseradish sauce. It's a great, simple choice for a special occasion.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are excerpted from Jacques Torres's Dessert Circus at Home. The first time I ever saw a moose was in Atlanta. Kris and I were in an antiques store. I saw antlers out of the corner of my eye and wondered if there was a real moose in the store. I am sad to tell you that while he was real, he was not alive. I promised myself I would visit a place where I would be able to see moose in their natural habitat. I think they are such magnificent animals and I adore their comical faces. I'm making this moose until I get to see them for real!

Actress Marissa Matrone shares a recipe her grandmother taught her. It's almost like ice cream!