Pear

"Although desserts are not my forte, I wanted to send in this simple yet impressive dessert, which contains only five ingredients," says Debra Anderson of Destin, Florida. "It reminds me of the beautiful pastries displayed in bakery shop windows in France."

The sauce is a variation of a classic one from the Normandy region of France, where it's made with apples and Calvados.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This free-form Italian tart has a tender and buttery crust; in the filling, Asian seasonings enhance the apples and pear, classic French dessert ingredients.

At Le Gavroche, the salad is composed on individual plates and the leaves of Belgian endive are left whole. Alternatively, the endive may be sliced and tossed with the other ingredients for a more casual presentation.

Other top-quality blue cheeses-like Maytag, Danish or Roquefort-are fine replacements for the Stilton. And if arugula is unavailable, choose another slightly bitter salad green, such as curly endive, chicory or baby salad greens; spinach mixed with some watercress would also work quite well.

Serve this slightly warm or at room temperature. Either way, it's fantastic with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream.

Chinese five-spice powder, cardamom and pears give an intriguing flavor.

This indulgent Cognac-spiked dessert fondue is perfect for a romantic evening by the fire.

"A friend served my homemade pear chutney at her dinner party, and everyone thought it was an unusual and delicious accompaniment for chicken," says Susan Banks of Seattle, Washington.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 45 min

Ready in under ten minutes, this sauce turns basic pork chops into an entrée good enough for company. Partner it with sautéed cabbage and roasted potatoes.

Toss Italian greens like arugula and radicchio with a vinaigrette dressing and toasted walnuts for a fresh starter, and offer crunchy seeded breadsticks alongside this unusual risotto. Finish up with chocolate biscotti and espresso.

If you don't have a 2 3/4-inch-diameter cookie cutter, the same size tin can (with top and bottom removed) works just as well.