Pineapple

"My wife, Jean, and I run a coffee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii," writes George Fike of Keauhou Mauka, Hawaii. "I really love to cook, so we entertain a lot, and I enjoy planning the dinners as much as I do making them. I tell people the best restaurant in town is our house! Since I do most of the cooking, recipes must either be relatively fast or look after themselves." Based on George's mother's recipe, this is an easy, moist, and tender carrot cake with delicate tropical flavors and macadamia nuts. There are a lot of ingredients, but they come together in just minutes.

"I literally didn't know how to boil an egg until I was in my 20's — when I tried to impress a guy by making dinner for him," writes Sally Siegel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I didn't have much success with the dinner or the guy, but I regrouped and put together a repertoire of fairly elegant dishes I felt confident making. Over the years, my cooking style has become more casual; I make dishes that are not too demanding, but still special for company."

Present these light sorbets in tall glasses, and garnish each dessert with large pieces of the pine nut brittle for a dramatic effect.

Have fun with this variation on an old favorite.

Here's a colorful and creative pie: Apricots, which flourish in California, Hawaiian pineapple and Oregon cranberries come together in a filling that offers a terrific balance of the exotic and the traditional. It's good with vanilla ice cream.

Try these as appetizers, as a salad (on a bed of greens) or as a light dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Lee Schmidt of Wichita, Kansas, writes: "My wife and I just returned from our honeymoon in Mexico. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the elegant Mahakua Hacienda de San Antonio in Colima. Our last night there, we dined on the rooftop terrace and shared an amazing pineapple tartlet." Dice any leftover pineapple and use it, with its caramel syrup, as an ice cream topping.

Whether you serve this in individual goblets or a pretty bowl, garnish it with fresh mint and whipped cream for a festive look.

Jamaica's native herbs and spices glorify the lush island's most popular meat. I serve this with Golden Pineapple Chutney . These chops need at least 4 hours' marinating time, and if you can let them sit overnight, they'll be even better.

An easy side dish for ham or chicken. The dressing can be made a day ahead.

One of the best-known and most popular tropical drinks, the mai tai translates perfectly into an irresistible sorbet. For a whimsical presentation, garnish with colorful paper umbrellas and bright orchid flowers or bougainvillea blossoms.

Light cookies are filled with dessert-wine ice cream and fruit. The recipe makes about six cookies, so there's an allowance for breakage or extras for nibbling.

A cored pineapple is used to serve this dessert, so be sure to select one with bright leaves.

Try over frozen yogurt, ice cream, pound cake, or serve with your favorite cookies.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Offer some crusty bread with this lovely main-course salad.