Ah, Dessert. In summer, and especially when it's hot, it should be light and refreshing, and if at all possible cool. Cold even. A peach in lightly chilled wine, macedonia (see below), gelato... All treats to bring the meal to a refreshing close or provide relief late on a hot day.
What could be more refreshing on a hot day than a brimming bowl (or cone) of ice cream? Crema (vanilla), chocolate, lemon, yogurt, watermelon.. I love them all! Especially when drizzled with fruit syrup, which is also perfect for making Italian ices.
Macedonia di Frutta
Or, home-made fruit cocktail. You'll want a variety of perfectly ripe fruit -- strawberries, raspberries, peaches, grapes, apricots, kiwifruit, pears, apples, grapes, and whatever else comes to mind, e.g. mangos or bananas. Peel what needs peeling, chop all into bite-sized pieces, and mix in a bowl with sugar and lemon juice (or wine if you prefer) to taste. Chill for an hour in the refrigerator, and enjoy!
A zuccotto is a delightful combination of cake and ice cream, that gains verve from just a slight drizzle of liqueur. It's quite refreshing, elegant, and perfect for a when company comes calling.
A Bavarese is a Bavarian Cream, but this doesn't mean that they're not popular in Italy. This recipe simply calls for fruit, leaving the choice of what kind to you, and as a result is extraordinarily variable: Cherries in June, peaches and raspberries in August...
Panna Cotta translates as "cooked cream," and if you think it sounds simple you're right. However, it's also light, and delightfully tasty, especially if served with a wild berry fruit sauce (or chocolate syrup).
This is a tasty Piemontese recipe that will be perfect in late summer, when figs and peaches are at their ripest, and temperatures begin to fall off in the evening.
Last, but certainly not least, a fresh fruit crostata, a disk of shortbread spread with crema pasticcera and decorated with freshly cut fruit. Properly made, these are extremely elegant, and well suited to important occasions -- even weddings. If you instead want something homier and have some jam or marmalade, you'll also find instructions for making a jam crostata.
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