Recipes with cornstarch

Harvard beets in a sweet and tangy cornstarch glaze made in the microwave. Five ingredients, ready in minutes using canned beets. A classic New England side dish.

Old-school peanut butter cream pie with a hidden layer of crumbly peanut butter and powdered sugar at the bottom, topped with vanilla custard and meringue or whipped topping. A diner-counter classic.

Greek-style macaroni pie (pastitsio) with feta cheese, cinnamon, oregano, mint, and tomatoes, topped with a creamy yogurt-egg-feta bechamel. A vegetarian baked pasta casserole cut into squares.

15-minute spicy tofu stir-fry in a garlic-ginger chili sauce with soy and scallions. Serve over rice for the fastest weeknight dinner in your rotation.

What is cake flour? The other day I ran out of cake flour and needed a substitute, after searching and experimenting I came up with this replacement for cake flour that seems to work quite well.

Showstopper honey-baked ham simmered in ginger ale, roasted with white wine, glazed with honey-maple-mustard, and served with rich pan sauce. Restaurant-worthy holiday centerpiece.

Old-fashioned sandwich cookies with a choice of two homemade fillings: raisin with lemon, or chopped date with orange zest and nutmeg. Three dozen per batch.

Old-fashioned sandwich cookies with a choice of two homemade fillings: raisin with lemon, or chopped date with orange zest and nutmeg. Three dozen per batch.

Classic chicken and broccoli stir-fry loaded with mushrooms, carrots, and bok choy in a ginger-sherry sauce. Better than takeout, on the table in 40 minutes, and packed with vegetables.

Smoked duck breasts crisp skin-side down in a hot skillet, then get glazed with raspberry vinaigrette spiked with hot sauce, honey, and fresh raspberries for an elegant 15-minute dinner.

Butterflied shrimp in savory black bean sauce with ground pork and vegetables. This Chinese-American classic with egg ribbons is ready in just 20 minutes over rice.

Wok-fried tofu coated in a glossy, spicy sauce of chili paste, garlic, ginger, soy, and sesame oil. Quick Chinese-style vegetarian stir-fry that's bold and simple.

Hot and sour shrimp stir-fry tosses sherry-and-ginger marinated shrimp with red bell pepper and scallions, then spoons over wilted watercress and crowns with toasted walnuts. Bright Asian-fusion supper.

Crispy coconut-crusted chicken strips with a tropical mango rum dipping sauce spiked with scotch bonnet, lime, and fresh ginger. Island vibes on a weeknight plate in under 45 minutes.

Crispy coconut-crusted chicken strips with a tropical mango rum dipping sauce spiked with scotch bonnet, lime, and fresh ginger. Island vibes on a weeknight plate in under 45 minutes.

Sage-crusted roast pork loin marinated overnight with garlic and peppercorns, served with a flambeed Calvados apple brandy sauce made from pan drippings and Granny Smith apples.