Lemon

"Michael Kornick's hip mk restaurant in Chicago has quickly become one of my favorite places for a special dinner," writes Thien Sylora of Chicago, Illinois. "I had a terrific gazpacho there."

Do not allow the meringue to overcolor when baking — check the oven often. Chill the pie well before serving.

Lemongrass lends a delicate flavor to this simple roast chicken from Market. Begin marinating the chicken one day ahead.

Poppy seeds have a tendency to go rancid quickly, so be sure to use a fresh jar (and refrigerate or freeze it afterwards).

For an impressive presentation, I always set the lemon halves in red-wine glasses, because their bowls are larger than white-wine glasses. Serve extra lemons alongside.

This distinctive fat-free drink is a great change of pace from coffee or tea.

These thin cookies resemble the strip of lemon peel that's often served with a cup of espresso.

Using stale pita will keep the bread from getting soggy in the salad.

Lemon curd separates the layers of this fine-crumbed, very-special-occasion cake. Get started at least one day ahead: The frosting base and lemon curd must chill overnight before using. For the frosting, high-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina) works best.

In the good old days, when everyone baked, the bake sale offered cooks a chance to strut their stuff. The competition was friendly but cut-throat, and winners were determined by whose sweets sold first - and at what premium price. In celebration of those leisurely times, here is a classic lemon meringue pie.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Easy to make and absolutely delicious. Pour a good Cabernet Sauvignon with this.

A great-looking, great-tasting summer pie. Brown sugar enhances the crust.