Recipe Sifter

Blue crab cakes bound with ground water crackers and sauteed golden in butter, served with a homemade cayenne mayonnaise made with roasted red pepper, anchovies, and capers.

Vegetarian bean and brown rice burgers with sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and whole wheat flour, pan-fried until golden. A hearty, protein-packed veggie burger with real texture and savory flavor.

Roasted potato and surimi salad: red potatoes roasted hot with garlic, then tossed with imitation crab, hard-boiled eggs, and a dilled mayo-yogurt dressing. A lighter upgrade to classic potato salad.

Shrimp with mango and basil sears turmeric-spiced shrimp and tosses them with ripe mango cubes, scallion greens, and fresh basil. Tropical-bright weeknight dinner.

Pasta with broccoli, carrots, and snow peas tossed in a spicy peanut sauce made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and lime. A quick Asian-inspired noodle bowl ready in 30 minutes.

Whole chicken slow-cooked with parsnips, carrots, white wine, and fresh oregano. Set it and forget it for 8 hours, then reduce the pan juices into a rich sauce.

Thai chicken coconut soup simmers bone-in chicken in lemongrass and galangal-infused coconut milk, finished with lime, fish sauce, cilantro, and chili. A Tom Kha Gai classic ready in 30 minutes.

Oven-baked chicken Kiev with boneless breasts dipped in butter, coated in a Parmesan-herb crumb crust, and finished with a white wine, scallion and parsley butter sauce. A baked take, no deep frying required.

Salmon burgers with pineapple rings are fresh teriyaki-spiced salmon patties grilled and topped with sweet caramelized grilled pineapple on a sesame roll. A light, summery burger with tropical island flavor.

Crustless artichoke quiche with marinated artichoke hearts, sharp cheddar, scallions, and a touch of hot sauce. A make-ahead brunch bake that cuts into squares for easy serving.

Cheese and corn tortilla enchiladas: flour tortillas stuffed with cottage cheese, corn, cheddar, scallions, and cilantro, topped with salsa and more cheese. Vegetarian, 40 minutes, crowd-pleasing.

Ground beef and cheese pie with cheddar, Swiss, green onions, and a mayonnaise-egg custard baked in a flaky pie shell. A savory one-dish dinner.

Chicken a la king with sauteed breast, mushrooms, roasted red and green peppers, scallions, and a sherry-cream pan sauce. A refined, from-scratch version of the retro classic.

Cajun-style fried hand pies stuffed with ground pork and beef, onions, green onions, parsley, and a kick of red pepper. Crimped pastry pockets fried golden and crisp.

Dijon chicken salad sandwich on croissants with mayonnaise, green onions, dill, and Dijon mustard. A quick no-cook lunch ready in 5 minutes with a tangy, herbed chicken filling.

Silky braised eggplant with chopped pork, stir-fried in a hot wok with garlic, ginger and Thai chili paste. The eggplant turns meltingly soft and drinks up a savory, dark-soy sauce.