Recipe Sifter

Sautéed chicken breast tossed with fluffy couscous, marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, currants, and toasted pine nuts. Served with a tangy yogurt-tomato sauce on the side.

Sopa de chiles poblanos is a creamy green chile soup made with pureed poblano peppers, chicken stock, and light cream thickened with a butter-flour roux. Rich, smoky, and velvety.

Steamed char siu bao (BBQ pork buns) with a savory-sweet filling of roast pork, oyster sauce, and soy in fluffy steamed dough. A dim sum classic made at home.

Ham mousse in sherry aspic is a classic French charcuterie showpiece. Ground ham folded into whipped cream, set in a crystal-clear aspic with truffle and egg white garnishes.

Antoine's cream of mushroom soup builds deep flavor with two stages of sherry reduction, butter-browned mushrooms, and a finish of heavy cream. Topped with quenelles and toasted hazelnuts.

Grilled smoked sausage with herb-marinated vegetables including zucchini, squash, leeks, and tomatoes. A homemade basil-oregano vinaigrette adds flavor to this easy summer grill meal.

Cajun chicken and sausage gumbo with a dark roux, ham, two kinds of sausage, Creole seasoning, and cayenne. A Louisiana party pot that feeds 15 to 20.

Sweet and sour pork the proper way: marinated pork cubes battered and deep-fried crisp, then tossed in a homemade sweet-sour sauce with peppers, carrots and lychees. Crunchy, glossy and far better than takeout.

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.

Build-your-own chicken tacos with a slow-caramelized garlic and onion base, serrano chiles, dual paprikas, and toasted cumin. Simmered chicken filling served with radishes, pinto beans, sour cream, and cilantro for a generous taco-night spread.

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.

Cheddar beer vegetable soup with a roux-based broth, mushrooms, and tender-crisp broccoli kept whole and added to the bowl. Two cheeses, one beer, and a soup that lives up to its name.

Lentils and carrots with marjoram simmered in chicken broth until tender and the liquid is fully absorbed. A hearty, high-fiber side dish with warm herbal flavor from dried marjoram.

Slow cooker chicken casserole with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, dry sherry, and tarragon. A set-it-and-forget-it crockpot dinner that cooks 8 hours on low and finishes with a quick thickened pan sauce.

Lentil and yogurt soup with orange lentils, bacon, mushrooms, and ground coriander, finished with a swirl of low-fat yogurt. Hearty, warming, and lighter than it tastes.

Chinese-style roast pork and mushrooms stir-fried with ginger, scallions, soy sauce, and sherry in a glossy cornstarch sauce. Ready in 30 minutes.