740 altering recipes

Stuffed polenta with meat sauce: two layers of Parmesan polenta sandwiching a meaty tomato-basil sauce and mozzarella, baked hot until bubbly. A lighter Italian alternative to lasagna.

Mexican beef salad with seared round steak strips, hominy, olives, and Monterey Jack over lettuce and tomato in a cumin-oregano vinaigrette. A Tex-Mex taco-salad alternative.

No-bake peanut butter balls with dates, raisins, walnuts, molasses, and orange juice, rolled in shredded coconut. A healthy, naturally sweetened energy bite that improves after a day of resting.

British leek and potato pie wrapped in crispy phyllo with cider-cream sauce and Hereford cheese. Elegant vegetarian main with layers of buttery, golden pastry.

Russian marinated herring (selyodka) layered in Mason jars with olives, dried chilis, coriander, mustard seeds, and a sweet vinegar brine. Ready after 5 to 7 days in the fridge.

Unlike meat stock, vegetable stock doesn't benefit from hours of cooking. After about 40 minutes of simmering, the vegetables have yielded all of their flavor.

Four-layer Black Forest torte with thin unsweetened chocolate cake layers alternating between chocolate filling and cream filling. Unfrosted sides show off the elegant layers.

Thumbprint buttercream cookies made with brown sugar, egg yolks, and shortening, coated in stiff egg whites and nuts, then filled with buttercream icing after baking.

Two-ingredient frozen fruit swirl made from pureed frozen bananas and mixed berries. A dairy-free, low-fat soft serve alternative with no added sugar.

No-bean Texas-style chili with ground beef, ground chile peppers, green chiles, and fresh tomatoes. Fat is skimmed after chilling for a leaner bowl.

Peppermint candy cookies with a buttery walnut shortbread shell hiding a pink cream cheese filling inside. Rolled in crushed peppermint and powdered sugar after baking.

Saged turkey loaf with fresh and dried sage, shallots, thyme, marjoram, and a hint of orange zest. A lighter, herb-forward alternative to classic meatloaf.

Homemade butterhorn rolls shaped into buttery crescents from a soft yeasted dough with eggs, milk, and shortening. Light, flaky, and golden after a double rise.

Salmon ball appetizer with cream cheese, horseradish, lemon juice, and onion, rolled in crushed pecans and parsley. A no-cook party spread ready after chilling.

Squash pie made with steamed winter squash, heavy cream, eggs, and warm spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and mace. A rich alternative to pumpkin pie.

Wheat-free applesauce cake made with ground oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins. A moist, spiced cake with no wheat flour that improves after resting overnight.