Elegant, easy cake for large crowd

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There's something magical and romantic about early June, the most popular time of year for getting married. Look at the newspaper listings of engagements and weddings, or just look on your bulletin board or refrigerator. Chances are you are headed to a wedding or wedding shower pretty soon.

If you are hosting one, the menu most likely is on your mind. Keep it festive, keep it simple, keep it light. A universal favorite among brides-to-be is chicken salad and cheese souffle. You can't miss with hot rolls and a green salad and, for dessert, an elegant cake of white chocolate.

Baked in a loaf pan, this white-chocolate loaf is both bread and cake, easy to slice for a few people, easy to slice for many. It's pretty on a silver tray, perhaps alternated with your favorite chocolate cake and with fresh strawberries to the side.

Five time-shaving ways to serve fresh berries

Savor fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries this summer while they are in season and taste their best.

• Sweeten and spoon them over vanilla ice cream. Add a tablespoon of orange liqueur or a smidgen of grated lemon zest if you like.

• Dip them in chocolate. Look for those handy microwaveable cups of dipping chocolate, found in the baking aisle.

• Bake a pie crust, and when it has cooled, spoon in sweetened berries to fill. Slice and serve this fresh berry pie with whipped cream.

• Instead of croutons, top your favorite green salad with berries, toasted pecans and crumbled blue cheese.

• Fold any of these berries into pancakes and muffins for breakfast or gift giving.