Fourth of July

The topping spreads as it bakes, forming a crisp cookie-like layer.

The mixture of fruit in this dessert, a long-standing menu item at The Marx Bros. Cafe in Anchorage, might include anything from wild Alaskan blueberries to apples, depending on the time of year.

Berries are in top form here; the filling is a cool, tangy crème fraîche sorbet rather than the usual whipped cream.

If you have a gas grill and want great smoky flavor, soak hickory-wood chips in water one hour. Drain well; place chips in a disposable aluminum pie pan directly over flames (or over lava rocks if they are part of the grill's design). Allow chips to begin smoking, then grill vegetables until tender. This recipe is an accompaniment for Spicy Barbecued Rib-Eye Steaks with Smoked Vegetable Salsa .

A creamy fruit filling goes between split Cardamom Biscuits for a beautiful dessert.

This cool salsa is the ideal accompaniment for grilled shrimp.

A quick low-fat, no-cholesterol side dish.

Brush this peppery sauce onto beef, chicken or pork during the last 15 minutes of grilling. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A classic rendition of the summer favorite. For something a little different, Cash sometimes adds two-thirds cup chopped fresh cilantro and two teaspoons curry powder.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. For side dishes, mix grated carrots into deli macaroni salad, and pass corn on the cob. Strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce and sliced strawberries is a sweet ending.

White always uses the traditional chef's technique of splitting the lobsters live. Here we boil them before splitting, which is easier for the home cook. Prepare the sauces first, and be sure to grill the lobsters immediately after they have been boiled and split.

Add a glass of rosé and some crusty Italian bread to make a perfect summer lunch.

The beergarita perfectly encapsulates laid-back summer sipping in a single pitcher, combining the familiarity of a margarita with the effervescence of beer.

The best fruit pie, complete with a brown sugar streusel topping.