Bon Appétit

Avocado, Belgian endive and spinach are combined with oranges and radishes in this gorgeous seasonal salad.

Executive chef Keith Luce at Spruce in Chicago is committed to featuring the best local ingredients each season. At this time of year, he often serves grilled chicken or game birds in a pool of uncooked tomato sauce, which takes advantage of the juicy tomatoes that grow so well in the Midwest. As side dishes, Chef Luce suggests grilling a selection of vegetables from the farmers market, such as sweet corn or squash. To complete this splendid late-summer supper, offer scoops of berry sorbet topped with sliced ripe peaches.

Vanilla bean and brandy accent the cake, and a few raspberries tint the peach topping a delicate pink.

Other varieties of sweet yellow-fleshed winter squash-such as acorn squash-are perfect for this soup. Nonfat milk and vegetable broth keep the soup low in fat, but also give it a surprisingly velvety texture.

The parfaits can be made a day ahead.

Have some carrot sticks, sweet gherkin pickles and buttered dinner rolls with the salad; if the picnic is taking place in the back yard, offer some corn on the cob as well. Oversize oatmeal cookies and watermelon wedges are a great finish. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned roast chicken with all the trimmings. Fresh herbs, crispy bacon, potatoes, sausages and a great gravy all add up to the kind of dish that creates nostalgia. Steamed baby carrots and sautéed shredded cabbage are proper accompaniments.

A sophisticated dessert that comes together easily because the pastry, cream and sauce can be prepared ahead of time. Serve the leftover cream filling like a pudding, and top it with fresh fruit.

Kind of a cross between a steamed pudding and a brownie, this rich-tasting dessert has only 1 tablespoon of added fat.

Either potato salad or bulgur salad would be lovely with these summer kebabs.

This recipe was created to accompany Spiced Beef in Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Mustard Dressing.

An inspired cherry-chocolate dessert.