Recipe Sifter

Shrimp boat on a crispy Boboli shell with lemon ricotta, artichoke hearts, and herb-sautéed shrimp in a white wine reduction. Ready in 30 minutes flat.

A multi-day Sichuan duck project: dry-rubbed with toasted spiced salt, air-dried overnight, steamed, battered, and deep-fried to shattering crispness. Includes a tea-smoked variation. Worth every step.

Baked artichoke and shrimp dip with cream cheese, Parmesan, picante sauce, and mayonnaise. A hot, creamy, spicy party dip ready in 35 minutes.

Velvety mushroom barley soup with a clever trick: half the barley gets pureed with sauteed mushrooms for extra body. Lightened up with skim evaporated milk and a splash of dry vermouth.

Impossible seafood pie with crab, tuna, sharp American cheese, and cream cheese in a Bisquick batter that forms its own crust. A crustless quiche-style dinner ready in an hour.

Keep your company satisfied with this yummy casserole made with chicken, mushrooms and almonds.

Roasted Cornish hen halves perched on sage-scented wild rice mounds, glazed with apple juice concentrate and served with roasted apple slices. An elegant dinner for four.

This is one of my go-to dishes during those lazy days when I don't want to cook. It's easy, and I love it.

Why this recipe works: Simmering chicken broth with lime zest and ginger is a shortcut to Asian flavor.

Ba mee nam: Thai egg noodle soup with ground pork, dried shrimp, crispy fried garlic, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts in a savory chicken broth. Comforting and ready in 40 minutes.

Indian vegetable rice pilaf with potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, green beans, and cashews bloomed in mustard seeds, ginger, garlic, and curry powder. A one-pot oven-baked pilau ready in 35 minutes.

Easy kimchi skips the long fermentation: salt napa cabbage, toss with a garlicky gochugaru paste, scallions, sesame, and grated pear, then marinate just an hour. A fresh, spicy Korean side ready the same day.

Vegetarian pot stickers stuffed with shiitake, napa cabbage, spinach, and tofu, then pan-fried crisp on the bottom and steamed tender on top. A healthy, customizable take on classic Chinese dumplings.

In this recipe, we use whole wheat couscous instead of rice, we add orange juice and currant, so the pilaf is sweet too.

This rib-sticking dish was given to me by a Southern relation.

Very classic middle-Eastern recipe, and it's usually cooked with couscous, here quinoa is an excellent substitution, full of nutrition. It is a great side-dish that can go well with any kind of main dish.