Cobbler

Miss Lewis loved to serve this old-fashioned Southern dessert (which is actually more of a double-crust pie) warm, with the syrupy juice spooned over the crisp crust.

Mama Sugar says this dish was common at Juneteenth celebrations years ago but is now seldom seen. It's a homey dessert, substantial and rich with butter and cane syrup, and it deserves a comeback.

Think of this dish as a sloppy joe with a corn bread and Cheddar crust — a welcome twist to an American classic.

If you're making this entire menu in a single oven, we recommend baking the cobbler ahead of time — that way you can reheat it while clearing the table. Otherwise, you can just whisk together the dry ingredients beforehand, but you'll have to excuse yourself during dinner to assemble and bake the dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

For an elegant touch, serve the cobbler in oversize goblets and top with ice cream.

Old-time taste in a hurry. Serve in deep bowls with ice cream or whipping cream.

The cornmeal biscuit topping adds some crunch to the winning combination of fresh strawberries and rhubarb.

A finale that is great on its own or served with some whipped cream that has been accented with brown sugar.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

This cobbler is wonderful after the chipotle-honey glazed pork (frankly, it's wonderful after anything).

If you're making this entire menu, we recommend assembling the cobbler and putting it into the oven just before you begin grilling the steak. That way, the cobbler will be cool enough to serve after you have finished eating the main course and cleared the table.

Although fresh dark sweet cherries are available in June, we believe they're best eaten out of hand. This cobbler makes great use of frozen cherries. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

The topping spreads as it bakes, forming a crisp cookie-like layer.

A sweet summer treat that comes together quickly (nectarines rarely need peeling). You may want to serve ice cream alongside, but some softly whipped cream is also delicious.

This dessert looks like a cobbler or pie, but it has the texture of a cake. Top it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.