raspberries

I was hemming and hawing over the next great dish to feature in our Berry Tempting series when I came across a new recipe I simply couldn't resist making: a fast and easy rendition of tiramisu, topped with a pile of mixed berries.

Given how enjoyable tiramisu is on its own, I wondered if the berries were even necessary, but I quickly realized the fresh berries add a tartness and texture that makes this dessert doubly refreshing. In particular, I hoarded the blackberry bites, as their seeds add a wonderful crunch that goes swimmingly well with mascarpone cream.

Beware: This dessert is quick to make, but it'll be consumed even faster. If you don't have sambuca, try a coffee-flavored liqueur like Kahlua, or even an orange one such as Triple Sec for an equally nice flavor. Want the recipe? Then keep reading.

FitSugar reader summer m shared her healthy breakfast in the Healthy Recipe Group.

Fresh fruit from the farmers market is the best. And Sunday mornings (the day after the market) are perfect for a fresh and simple breakfast of fruit, yogurt and granola. For this quick meal I mixed together some fresh strawberries, raspberries, peaches and fresh figs. Mixed the fruit together and topped my fat free plain Greek yogurt with them, a little Everything Granola and a drizzle of honey. Not sure it gets much better than this.

Sounds tasty and healthy! I would like to eat like this every day of the week — not just Sundays — but weekday mornings can be hectic. I'm wondering what you all had for breakfast this morning, and whether it differed from what you ate for your morning meal over the weekend.

When I said my new favorite basic is blueberry sauce, I was definitely not kidding. In addition to using the 15-minute compote in a lavender-vodka martini, I also took the liberty of making French toast on skewers for weekend brunch, and using the sauce in lieu of maple syrup.

I love this dish because it's fun to make and fun to eat, for kids and adults alike. Who can resist bite-sized blocks of breakfasty goodness, lovingly browned to perfection on all six sides? The answer is nobody, especially when it's laced together with wholesome blueberries, raspberries, and bananas, topped with a sprinkle of sugar, and drizzled with the incredible berry compote. For a fun weekend provision to make with the whole fam, read on.

A delicious and balanced cocktail doesn't need a lot of fancy ingredients. Take this recipe, for example, from San Francisco's Erick Castro. It involves gin, lemon juice, mint, and muddled berries. It's simple but absolutely sublime. In each sip you can taste the distinct ingredients. Even if you aren't normally a gin drinker, you'll enjoy this beverage. My guests loved it. Be sure to cheers to the Fourth! To make this for your friends and family, you'll need the recipe.

While an elegant poolside dinner may not be the most traditional of bachelorette parties, there is one classic element involved: a girlie, fizzy cocktail. Since a big group of females will be spending the weekend at a house in Calistoga, I'm going to need a large punch recipe to kick-start the festivities. Thus, I'm making this raspberry champagne punch. With vodka, orange liqueur, cherry liqueur, and sparkling wine, it's pretty potent and sure to loosen the crowd up . . . in case a stripper happens to stop by! I'll also stock up on sparkling water, white wine, and red wine.

To get the punch recipe, read more

At any sort of celebration, it's always nice to start things off with a special cocktail. Easter is no different. It gives guests something to do, stimulates conversation, and loosens up the crowd.

The appetizer is rich and buttery, so select a potent and refreshing cocktail, like this raspberry-thyme smash, to pair with it. The drink is herbal, fruity, and downright delicious.

Although the recipe calls for gin, I'm sure it would be equally delightful with vodka. For the easy method, keep reading.

On a recent trip to the grocery store, I caught sight of something new to the produce aisle: red currants. I'd never seen fresh red currants, and I was enamored by the dainty clusters of berries, each reminded me of a brilliant garnet cabochon. Needless to say, I brought a carton home — despite having no idea what to do with them.After some preliminary tasting and research, it became clear that although it's possible to eat red currants out of hand, reducing them in sugar helps round out their piquancy. Ultimately, I blended their slightly tannic flavor with raspberries in a granita creating the perfect ending to an Indian Summer day. Learn one great application for red currants when you read more

As much as I love experimenting with new spirits, sometimes I just need a girlie pink vodka cocktail with a fun name. Enter the raspberry shag.

Don't be fooled by the vibrant color. This drink — a mixture of sugared muddled raspberries, vodka, lemon juice, and soda — is not overly sweet. It is smooth, refreshing, and fruity.

The original recipe calls for strawberries, but I decided to try raspberries instead. I think any berry, like blackberries or blueberries, would work well in this concoction, so use what you have on hand. To check out the recipe, read more

Gossip Girl premieres next week and to celebrate I've invited over some friends to enjoy dinner and watch the show with me. It's a Monday night, so the menu is minimal but delicious and filling. Since Gossip Girl takes place in New York, all the recipes I'm using were crafted by acclaimed NYC chefs. This dessert, a simple raspberry clafouti, is Eric Ripert's recipe. Although the French name makes it seem like the dessert is complicated, it requires nothing more than a wire whisk and can be assembled in minutes. I'll put the clafouti in the oven when the episode starts and half way through we'll be savoring the fruity pastry piping hot. For Ripert's recipe, read more