I'm pretty partial to a spice cake a friend gave me. She's late-60's and the recipe was her Yankee great-grandmother's. Uses a lot of water, a lot of clove and raisins and is pretty unbelievable, and even better after a day or two.

cool thanks

This is like asking which of my grandchildren is my favorite. I can't do it. If you held a gun to my head, I'd probably tell you that I love strawberry shortcake, which I do, but ONLY if it's made in June with local strawberries from Spooner Farms, with my homemade cream-and-butter biscuits and topped with real whipped cream. We do not eat strawberry shortcake any other time of year. But then there's peach season, with Peach Shortcake and Peach Pie. And Lemon Meringue Pie, Eclairs, Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake with Ganache Filling, Apple Stacks with vanilla ice cream, Sour Cream Pound Cake with Merrill's Lime Ice Cream, Hershey Syrup Brownies topped with Coffee Ice Cream and Mrs. Richardson's Hot Fudge Topping, Apple Pie with Australian White Cheddar, Banana Splits, and My Wedding Cake (a white cake iced with way-too-sweet American buttercream, but we love it). And there's Fresh Coconut Cake with Seven-Minute Frosting, Pina Colada Pie, Lemon-Rhubarb Coffeecake, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Tiramisu, Devil's Food Cake with Foolproof Chocolate Frosting, Blueberry Hand Pies, Rustic Cherry Mini-Pies, Yogurt Pie, Creamsicle Cake, Indian Pudding, Stewed Fresh Fruit, Summertime Whoopie Pies (filled with ice cream instead of marshmallow frosting), Jello Poke Cake topped with (yes) Cool Whip, Mini Pumpkin Rolls, Just Like a HoHo cake, Julia Child's Apricot Meringue Torte, Rose Berenbaum's Banana Cake, Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party Cake with fresh raspberries between the layers and her White Out Cake--my list is pretty long, and it doesn't include cookies or candies because they're a snack, not a dessert: Desserts are eaten with a spoon or fork or knife (like fresh fruit with cheeses), not with fingers, and they should never be eaten unless someone is sitting across or next to you, or on your lap in the case of a grandchild.

I am really old school because I'm really old. I believe in dessert, three nights a week, maybe four. Real butter and real sugar for all!

I think I favor citrus, so lemon tart. It is rich but the tanginess allows you to fool yourself. And you only need a sliver.

Walnut cookies. Healthy and simple to make.
http://casa-giardino.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-favorite-treats-dolci-di-noci.html