Originally from China, green tea is noted for its antioxidant properties and is regarded as a “super food.” Some evidence suggests that regular green tea drinkers enjoy a reduced risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. Whatever the health benefits, green tea tastes delicious and offers an original flavor for your next batch of homemade ice cream.

Summer fruit is here, and that means it's time for sweet, flaky pies cooling on the windowsill. This simple, rustic crostata needs no pie pan or fancy decoration, letting the fruit shine with a sweetly-scented cardamom crust.

Growing up, my favorite fourth of July dessert was Flag Cake. Try this grown-up version, with a fresh strawberry filling, homemade whipped cream and delicious organic berries for the fourth, and for picnics and dinner parties all summer long!

I know most people are suckers for chocolate on dessert menus, but I've always gravitated towards anything fruit based. Pie, cobbler or tart, I find that Mother Nature's sweets are so much more enticing. That's not to say she can't use a bit of help with certain things, like the humble lime. This beautiful citrus fruit is often a bridesmaid and never a bride, accompanying quesadillas, Coronas and pad thai without ever taking center stage. Well, all that is about to change: welcome to the world of lime curd.

It wasn’t until my 20s that I was first introduced to authentic strawberry shortcake. No pound cake, no fake whipped “topping,” no saccharine strawberry syrup. Instead, old-fashioned strawberry shortcake is made of crumbly, buttery biscuits, fresh whipped cream and whole strawberries. The real deal, needless to say, is a world apart from the stuff most of us had as a kid. Here’s my personal recipe for this dazzling, whole-food summer dessert that’s going to win over both kids and adults with its freshness and ripe berry flavor.

Indulge this spring in a homemade ice cream recipe that's low in sugar, dairy-free and full of luscious flavor: Grapefruit Lavender Ice Cream. This heavenly recipe has just a hint of tangy citrus, and a whole lotta floral aroma from the real lavender infusion. Enjoy on a sunny patio or while taking a break from gardening in the backyard.

Every spring, I hold my breath for the arrival of mangoes. Those silvery-sweet, complex and inherently exotic fruits offer a taste unlike anything else in this world. And as far as I'm concerned, the world's best dessert is sweet coconut rice with fresh mango, a Thai tradition. Nutty, sweet and chewy, it's an excellent homemade treat even if your budget is tight. Make extra; you'll want to eat it every day.

This flourless cake recipe is also nut-free, gluten-free and full of beets--yes, beets. Taking a nod from Mexican pastries, it's spiked with ample cinnamon and a touch of spice. The texture is moist and spongy, not unlike a souffle cake. It's irresistable for lovers of beets, cakes and chocolate. Indulge.

Crisp apple strudel is on the list of everyone’s favorite things, up there with raindrops on roses and schnitzel with noodles. A Viennese classic that is popular all over Austria and in much of central and eastern Europe, “Apfelstrudel” is a classic dessert that is not too sweet and thus well suited for teatime or even breakfast.

This recipe is not your Gramma’s fruitcake. It’s gluten-free, using ground almonds in place of flour, and is packed silly with dried fruits, nuts and holiday spice. Not for the faint of heart, this intense cake is loaded with sweet flavor, nutty crunch and incredible comfort. Serve sliced with butter, jam and spiked cocoa for the ultimate Christmas dessert.