100 beach recipes

Spice cake made with amber ale, mixed dried fruit, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The fruit simmers in beer before baking for a dense, malty, pub-inspired dessert.

French pear tart with almond frangipane, kirsch-soaked apricot glaze, and vanilla-poached pears. Crushed macaroons fold into the pastry cream for chewy depth, finished with green pistachios.

Fresh ginger cheesecake with a ground pecan crust, featuring three forms of ginger: preserves, ground, and fresh grated. A rich, spicy cheesecake baked low and slow, garnished with candied ginger.

Almond pear coffee cake topped with juicy fresh pears and a buttery almond-nutmeg streusel built on a pound cake mix base. A brunch-friendly bake that uses mayonnaise as the secret tenderizer.

Chocolate fruitcake with cocoa, candied cherries, pecans, golden raisins, and mixed dried fruit, topped with a semisweet chocolate-almond glaze and toasted almonds.

Lighter berry coffee cake made with egg whites, applesauce, and canola oil instead of whole eggs and butter. Fresh raspberries and blueberries with a crunchy crumb topping. Adaptable for dairy-free diets.

Spiced apple walnut bundt cake with grated fresh apples, whole wheat flour, and a warm apple cider sauce. Dense, moist, and loaded with fall flavor.

Chocolate summer fruit cake with whole wheat flour, fresh stone fruit, coconut, raisins, and walnuts, soaked in a hot buttermilk glaze. A dense, fruit-packed sheet cake for seasonal baking.

Loaded with Vitamin C and potassium, this smoothie is great for a quick immune boosting breakfast on the go.

If you cannot find fresh peaches, use frozen ones (they will further thicken the smoothie). Peaches were first cultivated in China where they are considered a symbol of immortality and friendship. Nutritionally, they are a good source of selenium and vitamins A and C. Chia seeds are not only a complete protein, but supply the much needed omega-3 fatty acids missing from so many modern diets.

This recipe came about from a need to clean out my refrigerator, I had some fruit that need to be eaten and I used them this way, the result was tart, crispy and just plain good. There are a lot of combinations of fruit you could use but this one works well.

A great light snack that is perfect for a day at the beach or some quiet time on your porch.

Beach-style steamed crawfish layer fresh crawfish, red bliss potatoes, sweet corn, and lemon over hot seaweed. A New England-meets-Cajun shore feast.

Chewy cookies packed with oats, peanut butter, and finely chopped apples. Whole wheat flour adds nuttiness while egg substitute keeps them lower in fat. Perfect for lunchboxes.

Black beans and fresh veggies make a delicious, refreshing yet whole some salad. Serve it as a side dish or a simply delicious main dish with some good quality bread.

Grilled pizzettes top crisp, smoky individual crusts with sauteed yellow squash, tomato, basil, and melty smoked mozzarella. Cooked right on the grill for a charred, summer-fresh personal pizza.