Nut

Giving a nod to tropical fruit, this irresistible treat combines rich ice cream with a nut crust and thick fudge sauce.

For more information about forming and frying these pastry spirals, see Our Big Fat Greek Pastries.

If you have trouble finding Marcona almonds, you can substitute regular blanched almonds. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 hr (includes cooling)

The recipe for these individual puddings comes from the Brazilian restaurant Pampas in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

"I’m a pasta fiend, and I love to create sauces, especially when they include my favorite vegetable, red bell pepper," writes Dawn Kleinman of Denver, Colorado. "This recipe won a local contest and continues to receive compliments from everyone who tries it."

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This lovely finale is from Dwayne Fortier of La Reserve in Houston. Begin preparing it well before serving, as the mousse needs to freeze for at least six hours.

The crusts for the tartlets are as simple as frozen puff pastry cut into small rounds.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"One night when friends were coming over for cocktails, I wanted to make some hors d'oeuvres," says Amy Sue Keck of San Diego, California. "Though most tapenades I've tasted have been made with black olives and anchovies, I only had green olives in my cabinet—and no anchovies! So I added some toasted almonds instead, and my green "tapenade" was a hit. I still make it this way."