1 small cantaloupe 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon finely slivered fresh mint leaves 1/4-1/3 cup lemon juice, depending on the sweetness of the melon   Cut cantaloupe in half; remove and discard the seeds. Scoop out the flesh and transfer to a food processor. Puree until smooth; measure 1 1/3 cups puree [...]

OATMEAL CRUMB 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, divided 1/4 cup white whole-wheat flour, or whole-wheat pastry flour 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, or cinnamon 1/4 cup chopped walnuts CAKE 2 cups white whole-wheat flour, or whole-wheat pastry flour 2 teaspoons baking [...]

2 1/2 cups low-fat milk 4 large eggs 1/2 cup sugar, divided 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 4 cups cubed, day-old country-style bread, crusts trimmed (4-6 slices), preferably whole-wheat 2 tablespoons raisins, or currants 1 teaspoon butter, softened, plus 2 tablespoons, divided 2 ripe pears, peeled, [...]

2 medium-small firm bananas, peeled 1/2 tablespoon butter 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/4 cup dark rum, or orange juice 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup low-fat vanilla ice cream, or frozen yogurt   Cut bananas in half lengthwise. Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar and lay the banana [...]

2-3 oranges 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup water   Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest from oranges in 1 1/2- to 2-inch-long pieces. Cut the pieces into very thin strips, about 1/8 inch wide. Cook in a small saucepan of boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain. Bring more water to a boil and cook the [...]

3 cups fresh or frozen and partially thawed blackberries, or raspberries or a mixture of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries 6 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt   Combine berries, sugar and lemon juice in a food processor; process until smooth. Add yogurt and pulse until mixed in. If using fresh [...]

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons canola oil 1 cup whole-wheat flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup reduced-fat milk 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 ripe but firm peaches, (about 1 pound), pitted and sliced into eighths, or 3 1/2 cups frozen 2 cups (1 pint) fresh or [...]

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3 tablespoons canola oil 1/4 cup apple-juice concentrate, thawed 3 medium tart apples, such [...]

3/4 cup frozen pitted cherries 2 tablespoons part-skim ricotta 1 tablespoon toasted slivered almonds   Heat cherries in the microwave on High until warm, 1 to 2 minutes. Top the cherries with ricotta and almonds.

1/3 cup reduced-fat vanilla yogurt 1/2 cup crushed canned pineapple, or canned mandarin oranges 1 tablespoon toasted coconut Top yogurt with pineapple (or canned mandarin oranges) and coconut.