Recipe Sifter

Turn leftover teriyaki pork into a quick wok dinner with ramen noodles, crisp napa cabbage and shredded carrots in a savory teriyaki broth. A smart 35-minute leftover makeover.

Tuna pasta alfredo tossed with broccoli in a from-scratch herbed white sauce with garlic, thyme, and Parmesan. Creamy, satisfying comfort food without a jar of sauce in sight.

Spiced turkey sausage browned with onion, then simmered with long grain rice, carrots, celery, and fresh basil in chicken broth. A one-skillet pilaf that's ready in 45 minutes with almost no hands-on time.

Thin-pounded veal scallops seared golden, then plated with warm avocado slices and a silky vermouth-lemon butter sauce. A retro Italian gem that feels surprisingly modern, ready in under an hour for 6 to 8.

White bean chili with turkey, tomatillos, green chiles, and a cilantro yogurt cream. A leaner Southwest twist on red chili that tastes even better the next day.

White chicken chili with dried white beans, green chiles, cumin, oregano, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. A creamy, brothy alternative to traditional red chili.

Onion and potato soup built on sweet butter-cooked white onions, shredded potato, garlic, and prosciutto, finished with grated Romano. A rustic Italian-style soup ready inside an hour.

Buttery broccoli soup simmers chopped broccoli with sauteed onions, chicken broth, and rich evaporated milk for a creamy 6-ingredient soup. Puree for smooth, leave chunky for rustic.

Creamy winter squash soup with finely chopped hazelnuts, onions, and a splash of sherry. The nuts add nutty body without any dairy thickener. A simple autumn first course.

General Tao's chicken with crispy water chestnut flour coating, Thai chili peppers, ginger, and orange peel in a sweet-sour sesame sauce. Restaurant-style Chinese takeout at home.

Roast pork loin with Marsala-steeped dried figs, butter-glossed pearl onions and honey mustard on the side. A rustic, wine-braised dinner-party centerpiece.

Cream of leek soup builds a butter-flour roux with chicken stock and half and half, then folds in tender steamed leeks. Optional ham and potato additions turn it into a hearty meal.

Poached cod in a fragrant saffron broth with leeks, bell pepper, and tomato. A light, low-sodium fish dinner built on a slow-simmered vegetable stock with rich golden color and delicate flavor.

Lamb Creole gumbo with browned lamb riblets, okra, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, and white wine simmered low and slow. A hearty Louisiana-style pot that serves eight and freezes well.

Chicken pieces steamed with zucchini, carrots, potatoes, and fresh tarragon, served in soup bowls with a reduced white wine and shallot sauce. A light, elegant French-style one-pot dinner.

Curry-glazed duck legs roast under a paste of jalapeno, ginger, garlic, and curry powder, then braise in orange-lime juice with chicken stock. The skin re-crisps for shatteringly crackly results.