McDermott is the author of 14 cookbooks on Asian cuisine and desserts of the American South, including “Southern Pies” (Chronicle Books, 2010) and “Southern Cakes” (Chronicle Books, 2007).

Sometimes that bounty is a little more than my small family can get to. While there are always cobblers, pies and other baked treats to consider, I’m often looking for ways to cool off and avoid ...